MUMBAI: "Don't travel by air," the Supreme Court told a petitioner on Monday while refusing an urgent hearing of a plea alleging a nearly 700 per cent increase in airfares.
An advocate mentioned the matter for urgent listing before a bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and Aparesh Kumar Singh.
"Airfares have increased by 700 per cent," the advocate submitted, arguing that air travel was an essential service.
"This is a violation of Article 14," the advocate argued, referring to the constitutional provision that guarantees equality before the law. The advocate sought an urgent hearing of the matter.
In response, the court remarked, "Don't travel by air", and declined to grant an urgent hearing.
At the same time, the bench was hearing another plea filed by social activist S Laxminarayanan, seeking the establishment of an independent regulator to ensure transparency and passenger protection in the civil aviation sector.
The petition also seeks regulatory guidelines to control unpredictable fluctuations in airfares and additional charges imposed by private airlines.
The petitioner contended that steep last-minute increases in airfares, particularly during festive seasons, emergencies and long weekends, make air travel unaffordable for ordinary citizens and violate their right to equality.
However, the bench was not inclined to grant an urgent hearing, observing that air travel was not mandatory.
The remarks come amid growing public concern over exorbitant airfares charged by airlines during periods of peak demand, particularly during festive seasons.
The plea filed by Laxminarayanan seeks directions to the Centre and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to establish a transparent fare-fixation mechanism and curb arbitrary additional charges.
It also seeks a cap on airfares, regulation of dynamic pricing, the establishment of an independent regulator and greater transparency to protect passengers against steep fare hikes of up to 700 per cent and additional charges imposed by private airlines.