Delhi High Court to Hear Petition Seeking Action Over IndiGo Crisis, Compensation for Stranded Passengers

New Delhi: A petition seeking strict action over the IndiGo crisis that left lakhs of passengers stranded at airports will be considered by the Delhi High Court on Wednesday. The petition demands four times compensation for affected passengers and calls for an investigation against the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The matter will be heard by a bench headed by Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya. The petition has been filed by the Centre for Accountability and Systemic Change (CASC).

Around 5,000 flights were cancelled after IndiGo failed to comply with the revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL). The petition argues that the central government should initiate action against the airline under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, and alleges that the DGCA failed to discharge its duties.

Meanwhile, another bench of the High Court on Tuesday issued notice in a petition filed by the Federation of Indian Pilots, alleging dilution in the implementation of FDTL norms. The bench led by Justice Amit Sharma issued notice to the DGCA and adjourned the case to April next year. The pilots’ body had earlier warned in a petition filed in November that regulatory concessions granted to IndiGo in violation of norms could lead to a crisis.