Supreme Court Seeks Final Aviation Rules Amid Plea Against Arbitrary Airline Ticket Prices
The Supreme Court has directed the Central Government to place before it, within two weeks, the final rules framed under the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024, while hearing a public interest litigation seeking safeguards against arbitrary airfare hikes and excessive ancillary charges imposed by private airlines. The Court ordered that the rules be submitted in a sealed cover, irrespective of whether they have been formally laid before Parliament.
A Bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta passed the order after the Centre informed the Court that the rules had already been finalised and were undergoing translation before being placed before Parliament. Taking note of the submission, the Bench granted the government two weeks to produce the complete regulatory framework and listed the matter for further hearing on August 3.
The proceedings arise from a PIL filed by social activist S. Laxminarayanan, who has sought the creation of a robust and independent aviation regulator to ensure transparency, fair pricing and stronger passenger protection. The petition contends that private airlines currently enjoy wide discretion in fixing ticket prices and levying ancillary charges, resulting in unpredictable fare fluctuations, hidden costs and inconsistent pricing practices that adversely affect consumers.
The petitioner has argued that airlines have, over time, reduced free baggage allowances and increasingly monetised services that were previously included in the ticket price, thereby imposing additional financial burdens on passengers. According to the plea, the absence of an effective statutory mechanism to review or regulate airfare pricing and ancillary charges has enabled airlines to adopt pricing practices that lack transparency and accountability.
The issue has been under the Supreme Court’s consideration for several months. During earlier hearings, the Court expressed concern over sharp spikes in airfares during festivals, emergencies and periods of peak demand, describing such pricing as potentially exploitative and emphasising the need for an appropriate regulatory framework to balance commercial freedom with consumer interests.
While the Court has not issued any directions regulating airfare prices at this stage, its latest order signals close judicial scrutiny of the Centre’s proposed aviation rules. The outcome of the case could significantly influence the future regulation of airline ticket pricing, ancillary charges and passenger rights under India’s modernised civil aviation framework established by the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024.
