Plea in Delhi High Court seeks directions to halt operation of Spicejet Airline, hearing today

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

The petition is to be heard by a division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad today i.e. July 18.

Raising security concerns, the petition also sought directions to compensate passengers who faced the threat of death during the journey and had to deal with the mental trauma of fear of death.

Rahul Bharadwaj, a practicing advocate, and his four-year-old son filed the petition, requesting that the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the DGCA, and others to 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.