New Delhi: The Centre has informed the Supreme Court that administrative approval has been granted for regulations under the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024, which aims to govern and update India's civil aviation sector. According to reports from the Press Trust of India, the rules are expected to be published within two weeks.
The development emerged during court proceedings for a public interest petition advocating for an independent aviation regulator, enhanced transparency, passenger protection mechanisms, and guidelines to manage volatile ticket pricing and extra fees levied by commercial carriers.
A judicial bench consisting of Justices Vikram Nath, R Mahadevan, and Aparesh Kumar Singh directed Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to submit the officially published rules to the court during the next scheduled hearing. During the session, Mehta stated that finalization and administrative clearance for the regulations had been completed and publication would occur within a fortnight. The bench scheduled the upcoming hearing for November 16.
The underlying public interest litigation was brought forward by social activist S Laxminarayanan, pressing for a robust and autonomous regulatory body to enforce transparency and shield consumers throughout the civil aviation industry. The complaint also calls for oversight to curb unpredictable ticket price fluctuations and additional charges implemented by private airlines.
Previously, the government had notified the Supreme Court that rule-making under the 2024 legislation was fast-tracked. During earlier sessions, the court expressed concern over steep ticket price spikes during festivals, characterizing such surges as exploitative, and requested formal responses from the administration and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
The petition highlights various grievances, including the reduction of free check-in baggage allowances for economy travelers by private operators without clear justification, alongside unchecked dynamic pricing models and hidden fees. The matter will return to the Supreme Court on November 16, at which point the government is anticipated to present the newly published regulatory framework.