There has to be some rationalisation: SC on fluctuating airfares, Pg7

Key Highlights:

• The Supreme Court addressed a PIL concerning "arbitrary and opaque" airfare pricing by airlines, highlighting discrepancies where prices fluctuate from Rs 8,000 to Rs 18,000 on the same route on the same day.
• The court emphasized the need for "rationalisation" of airfares, noting the wide variations in prices for the same sector.
• The Solicitor General stated that the government is framing rules under the new Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024, which has already come into force.
• The PIL, filed by social activist S Laxminarayanan, seeks transparency in airfare pricing and stronger passenger protection.

Detailed Insights:

• The Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024 aims to regulate the civil aviation sector, with the DGCA empowered to issue directions against airlines charging predatory or excessive fares.
• The petitioner argued that the failure to regulate airfare pricing violates Article 21 of the Constitution, denying economically weaker passengers their right to safe and timely mobility.
• The court acknowledged the problem of fluctuating airfares and sought immediate relief for passengers, even as the government works on statutory rules.
• Instances of exorbitant airfare hikes during festivals and other occasions were cited in the plea, questioning the government's inaction in such cases.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Article 21: Guarantees the right to life and personal liberty, interpreted to include safe and timely mobility.
• DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation): The aviation regulator in India, responsible for safety, security, and airworthiness standards.
• PIL (Public Interest Litigation): A legal action initiated in a court of law for the enforcement of public interest.