The Supreme Court has pressed the Centre to expedite the finalisation and publication of new aviation regulations aimed at strengthening passenger protection and improving oversight of airlines.
New Delhi: During a hearing on Monday, the Centre informed a bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta that it had accelerated work on rules under the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024. The government said the regulations were expected to be finalised within three weeks.
The draft rules were presented to the court in a sealed cover, with the Centre stating that discussions on some provisions were still underway. The bench, however, urged the government to move quickly and said that airlines failing to comply with regulatory requirements should face strict action, including being grounded.
Additional Solicitor General Anil Kaushik, representing the Centre, assured the court that the final version would be ready within the three-week timeframe.
The hearing followed a petition filed by social activist S Laxminarayanan, seeking the creation of a stronger and independent aviation regulator to ensure greater transparency and passenger protection. The petition also calls for regulatory measures to address sharp and unpredictable increases in airfares and additional charges levied by airlines.
The petitioner’s counsel argued that existing regulations continue to operate until the new framework is introduced and questioned the effectiveness of the current system in dealing with rising airfares.
The Supreme Court has previously expressed concern over steep increases in air ticket prices, particularly during festivals and periods of high demand. In an earlier hearing, the court called for greater rationalisation of airfares and asked the Centre to consider measures that could provide relief to passengers.
The petition also raises concerns over changes in baggage policies. It alleges that private airlines have reduced the free check-in baggage allowance for economy passengers from 25 kg to 15 kg, turning a previously included service into an additional source of revenue.
It further argues that airlines currently have significant freedom to impose dynamic fares and ancillary charges, with limited regulatory mechanisms to review or control such pricing practices.
The Supreme Court reviewed the draft regulations submitted by the Centre and observed that while a regulatory mechanism had been proposed, questions remained regarding the effectiveness and structure of the regulator.
The court has given the Centre additional time to finalise the rules and has scheduled the matter for further hearing on September 7, 2026.
The development comes as the government works to establish a regulatory framework under the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024, which came into effect in January 2025 and replaced the earlier aviation legislative framework.
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