Overview
- A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta on Monday directed the Centre to place the draft rules framed under the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024 before the court in a sealed cover within two weeks.
- Government lawyers told the court the draft rules are finalised and are being translated before they are tabled in Parliament, but the rules have not yet been formally notified.
- The public interest petition by S. Laxminarayanan seeks an independent aviation regulator and binding limits on surge pricing, opaque ancillary fees and algorithmic fare setting.
- Petitioners point to concrete harms such as private airlines cutting included economy check‑in baggage from 25 kg to 15 kg and the government keeping DGCA passenger‑friendly directions in abeyance.
- The court listed the matter for further hearing on August 3, and its sealed review could determine whether the new rules must include powers to cap fares, mandate public consultation, and strengthen consumer grievance redressal.