Overview
- A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta treated unpredictable fares and add-on fees as a constitutional issue under Article 32.
- The Union, represented by ASG Anil Kaushik, said the issue is being examined at the highest level with meetings convened by the Solicitor General.
- The court declined to implead the Federation of Indian Airlines at this stage, indicating the government will consult stakeholders first.
- The PIL by S. Laxminarayanan seeks caps on surge pricing, regulation of baggage and ancillary charges, standardised refund and cancellation rules, and an independent aviation regulator.
- Earlier remarks from the bench cited festival-period spikes such as during the Kumbh and on routes to Prayagraj and Jodhpur, where fares were described as roughly triple pre-festival levels.