PIL in SC seeking intervention into IndiGo crisis amid ‘operational collapse’

New Delhi: A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed with the Supreme Court, seeking urgent judicial action in an "unprecedented operational collapse" of IndiGo Airlines, which has cancelled over 1,000 flights in recent days.

The petition filed by 'IndiGo All Passenger and Another', through counsel Narendra Mishra, requested the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognisance of the issue, describing it as a significant violation of people's fundamental rights, including the right to life and dignity under Article 21.

According to the petition, the chaos triggered by mass cancellations and severe delays has escalated into a "humanitarian crisis" at major airports.

Passengers, including senior citizens, infants, and those with medical needs, were allegedly left without food, water, rest areas, or even emergency assistance.

"The situation has transcended a mere contractual dispute between airline and consumer. It has become a matter of grave public injury and a clear violation of the Fundamental Right to Life and Liberty (Article 21) of the citizens of India," the plea stated.

IndiGo has publicly attributed the disruptions to planning lapses during the rollout of Phase II of revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms for pilots.

The plea contended that neither the airline nor the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) performed adequate anticipatory oversight.

The PIL highlighted that exorbitant fares, touching upwards of Rs 50,000 on key routes, "held the travelling public hostage" and "destroyed the fundamental promise of affordable air travel".

Calling for a Special Bench to hear the matter urgently, the petition urged the Supreme Court to direct IndiGo to cease arbitrary cancellations and provide free, alternative travel arrangements, including seats on other airlines or trains, for all stranded passengers.

Further, it sought a direction to the DGCA and the Union Civil Aviation Ministry to file an exhaustive status report, including the complete text of the revised FDTL norms and a detailed plan for monitoring IndiGo's compliance and safe restoration of services.

Claiming that lakhs of citizens were stripped of necessities in a moment of national-level distress, the petition pleaded that only immediate judicial oversight can restore accountability and public confidence in India's civil aviation framework.

With inputs from IANS