A letter has been submitted to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, urging the Supreme Court to take suo motu notice of the widespread cancellations of domestic flights that have severely disrupted air travel across the nation, affecting countless passengers.
A letter has been submitted to Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, urging the Supreme Court to take suo motu notice of the widespread cancellations of domestic flights, which have caused significant disruption in air travel across the nation.
Advocate Aman Banka’s plea emphasizes what it refers to as a nationwide aviation collapse, disproportionately impacting countless passengers and raising serious concerns under Article 21 of the Constitution.
The representation specifically points to disruptions allegedly associated with Indigo Airlines, which holds nearly 60 percent of India’s aviation market.
The plea highlights that the abrupt cancellations, operational failures, and lack of clear communication have created a crisis that seriously affects essential public services and reveals significant weaknesses in the regulatory framework.
Describing air travel as vital public infrastructure rather than merely a commercial luxury, the petitioner outlines the cascading impact on critical sectors, particularly healthcare. Many passengers depend on scheduled flights for organ transplants, emergency surgeries, follow-up medical appointments, and consultations with specialists.
Reports from hospitals indicate missed operations, delayed treatments, and emotional distress for patients and their families due to last-minute cancellations.
The plea also addresses the adverse effects on India’s competitive academic landscape. Students preparing for entrance exams, campus interviews, scholarship assessments, and admission deadlines have faced lost opportunities due to these aviation disruptions.
Many travel from remote areas after making significant financial and emotional investments, only to encounter last-minute cancellations that disrupt their plans.
The representation notes the significant financial and professional setbacks encountered by working professionals, government officials, business owners, defense personnel, and contractual workers. Missed court hearings, industrial inspections, tenders, medical camps, and official assignments have resulted in direct losses and affected ongoing institutional processes.
Beyond economic impacts, the plea highlights the deep personal distress experienced by citizens. Travelers have missed funerals, deliveries, weddings, and other significant life events.
The petitioner asserts that the “dignity of citizens stands compromised” when they are left stranded at airports without reliable information, proper support, or meaningful avenues for recourse.
The letter raises alarms about substantial service deficiencies, including inadequate prior notification, poor refund processes, rejection of alternative routing, and limited grievance-handling systems.
It questions whether airlines, operating in a regulated, high-dependency environment, have lived up to their care obligations under consumer protection and fair-trade principles.
There is strong criticism directed at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Ministry of Civil Aviation, with the petitioner describing their responses as “delayed, ineffective, and lacking contingency planning.”
The representation argues that regulatory bodies failed to anticipate or avert this large-scale disruption, especially given Indigo’s significant market presence.
The authorities’ silence amid widespread public suffering, according to the plea, signifies administrative inaction. The crisis engages constitutional guarantees under Article 21, covering dignity, mobility, timely healthcare access, and uninterrupted opportunities.
Given the situation of lakhs of passengers who are stranded, diverted, or facing economic burdens, the petitioner asserts that the magnitude and repercussions of this disruption warrant judicial intervention.
The plea calls on the Supreme Court to compel the DGCA and the Ministry of Civil Aviation to provide a status report on the root causes of the crisis and the measures being taken to address it. It also seeks directives to establish emergency aviation protocols that ensure alternative travel arrangements, financial compensation, and prioritization for medical emergencies.
A critical demand includes the establishment of a “Passenger Protection Framework” to ensure transparency, prompt refunds, clear airport assistance, and an enhanced grievance resolution mechanism.
Additionally, it advocates for holding operators accountable and requiring periodic compliance reports to avert future failures.
Stressing public welfare and the urgent need to restore trust in vital travel systems, the petitioner concludes that only proactive intervention by the Supreme Court can ensure accountability within institutions and protect fundamental rights.