Indigo Crisis: Supreme Court Declines To Hear Plea On Flight Cancellations, Directs Petitioner To Delhi HC

(MENAFN- Live Mint) The Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear a plea seeking judicial intervention in the IndiGo crisis involving flight cancellations and delays, according to a report by PTI news agency. The top court directed the petitioner to approach the Delhi High Court with the grievances.

A bench consisting of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pamcholi considered the submissions of petitioner Narendra Mishra, who argued that the plea warranted a hearing by the apex court. However, the bench noted that the Delhi High Court was already dealing with a similar public interest litigation.

The court directed Mishra to move the high court and allowed him liberty to return if his grievances remain unresolved.

Appearing for IndiGo, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi informed the court that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has constituted an expert committee to examine flight cancellations and the resulting inconvenience to passengers.

What did the court say?

As per the report, the bench stated,“It is pointed out that a petition is pending before the Delhi High Court. It is stated that the DGCA has formed an expert committee dated December 5.... All the issues raised herein are pending before the Delhi High Court. The petitioner is permitted to join proceedings before the Delhi High Court.”

Also Read | Flight cancelled or rescheduled? Here's how IndiGo's Plan B can help

“And we request the Delhi High Court to allow him to intervene in the high court and raise all contentions therein. If all grievances are not redressed, then nothing stops him or any other public-spirited individual to approach this court,” it added.

Mishra pointed out that passengers are facing severe hardship due to frequent flight cancellations.

At the outset, the CJI remarked that the issue was a serious matter of public concern but noted that the high court was already examining it. Emphasising that the high court is also a constitutional court, the CJI added that the petitioners could approach the Supreme Court if their grievances remained unresolved.

Also Read | IndiGo passenger compensation to be ₹500+ cr, refunds in focus - Latest updates

Earlier, the bench had declined to grant an urgent hearing on the plea seeking judicial intervention. It observed that the Centre was aware of the situation and had already taken steps to deal with it.

IndiGo has come under criticism from both the government and passengers for cancelling hundreds of flights, attributing the disruptions to changes in regulations governing pilots' flight duty hours and norms. These cancellations have stranded lakhs of passengers at airports across the country.

On 10 December, the Delhi High Court pulled up the central government for failing to act in time to prevent the crisis triggered by IndiGo's flight cancellations, questioning why the situation was allowed to worsen, leaving lakhs of passengers stranded and forcing them to pay exorbitant fares charged by other airlines.

The court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking directions to the Centre to extend assistance and ensure refunds for passengers impacted by the cancellation of hundreds of IndiGo flights.

Key Takeaways

• SC directed the petitioner to approach the Delhi High Court with the grievances.
• Appearing for IndiGo, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi informed the court that the DGCA has constituted an expert committee to examine flight cancellations

MENAFN15122025007365015876ID1110481185