Delhi High Court Questions Centre Over IndiGo Crisis; Flags Economic Impact

The Delhi High Court has sharply criticised the Union government for allowing the widespread disruption of IndiGo flights that left lakhs of passengers stranded nationwide.

The crisis, marked by mass cancellations and prolonged delays, triggered significant economic losses and prompted the filing of a public interest litigation (PIL).

During the hearing, a bench led by Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela remarked that the airline chaos had gone far beyond passenger discomfort.

The court observed that fast and efficient passenger movement is essential for maintaining economic momentum, and disruptions of such scale have a direct impact on the national economy.

While acknowledging the steps already taken by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the DGCA, the bench questioned why the authorities allowed the situation to escalate to such an extent.

It sought a detailed explanation from the Centre on the legal mechanisms available to act against airlines that fail to follow regulatory directions.

Referring to the powers conferred under the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, the bench asked: “If an airline fails to adhere to directions, what provision enables you to act? Are you helpless?”

The Court pressed for clarity on the policies or statutory provisions under which action could be initiated.

Representing the Centre, Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma told the court that the government had formed a high-level committee and that the DGCA had issued a show-cause notice to IndiGo, which had “apologised profusely”.

He added that the authorities imposed fare caps within two days of the crisis.

Court Rejects Explanation on Fare Regulation

However, the court rejected this explanation, noting that airfares had already shot up to an exorbitant ₹30,000–₹40,000 by that time. It further questioned why other airlines were allowed to exploit the situation and sharply increase ticket prices.

Senior advocate Sandeep Sethi, appearing for IndiGo, described the disruption as an unprecedented incident in the airline’s 19-year history. He claimed it resulted from ‘multiple factors’, including technical issues.

The High Court directed IndiGo to strictly follow DGCA’s compensation guidelines and begin compensating passengers immediately. It emphasised that the compensation must extend beyond cancellations and include redressal for the ‘agony caused by hostile staff and long delays’.

Although the court found shortcomings in the PIL, it invoked its jurisdiction in view of the larger public interest. It directed the authorities to submit the completed inquiry report in a sealed cover during the next hearing scheduled for 22 January 2026.

The incident has reignited debate over airline accountability, fare regulation, and the effectiveness of aviation oversight in India.

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