Union Bank account not mandatory to receive accident compensation: MP High Court

New Delhi - The Supreme Court has warned passengers against air travel, refusing urgent listing of a plea alleging an astronomical 700% increase in airfares. The court is set to receive new aviation rules aimed at regulating volatile airfares within two weeks.

The plea, filed by social activist S. Laxminarayan, seeks binding regulatory norms to curb arbitrary airfare pricing and ancillary charges imposed by private airlines during festive periods, holidays, and emergencies. The court was hearing the public interest litigation (PIL) petition that highlighted the exploitation of passengers through exorbitant fare hikes during festivals.

A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and Aparesh Kumar Singh observed, "Don't travel by air," in response to the skyrocketing airfares. The advocate argued that air travel is an essential service, but the Supreme Court emphasized the need to rationalize airfares in compliance with Article 14 of the Constitution, which deals with equality before the law.

The Centre informed the court that new aviation rules addressing predatory airfares are nearing completion. The Supreme Court is also hearing a separate petition seeking a robust and independent regulator for the civil aviation sector, along with guidelines to control unpredictable fluctuations in airfare and ancillary charges.