Delhi High Court dismisses plea seeking directions to halt operation of SpiceJet airlines

The Delhi High Court on Monday rejected the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking directions to the Centre and the concerned authorities to halt Spicejet Airlines operations, citing several incidents of technical glitches in its aircraft recently.

While dismissing the petition filed by Advocate Rahul Bhardwaj, a division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad ruled that an airline's operations cannot be halted based on a PIL and press reports.

Court noted that the Aircraft Act provided a "robust mechanism" for the aviation industry and that the DGCA had previously taken action and issued show-cause notices in connection with the incidents cited in the current case.

Bharadwaj claimed that there have recently been incidents involving SpiceJet aircraft "landing," taking off without passengers' luggage, and staff not being paid.

The court observed that while the DGCA is "very much in operation," there is no reason to grant the petitioner's requested remedy.

Plea requested that the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the DGCA, and others convene a special fast-track commission to consider the feasibility of Spicejet Airlines suspending operations until all security measures are implemented.

The plea also claimed that the airlines violated the basic principle of the rule of law, which provides protection, safety, and security to the passengers' lives, liberty, dignity, and property, as well as providing an environment in which the passengers' personal liberty and property can be protected and preserved in a healthy environment.

It further stated that the principles of natural justice, equality, and good conscience demand that the respondents be directed to form an independent special inquiry comprised of aviation experts to recommend all measures where all safety measures can be ensured for passengers and citizens.

Case Title: Rahul Bhardwaj v. Union of India & Ors.

[Inputs: Economic Times]