The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked the Central government and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to file response on a plea seeking capping of air fares charged by the various airlines in the country.
A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C. Hari Shankar has also asked the Civil Aviation Ministry to reply on the on the plea as it listed the matter for August 8.
The court was hearing a plea filed by consumer rights activist Bejon K. Misra who has said that the authorities are behaving like "silent spectators" to the "arbitrary" fixing of fares by the airlines.
Misra said that capping of air fares or guidelines to regulate them are necessary to ensure "greater transparency and accountability" and "discourage profiteering and undue enrichment in the business of civil aviation".
Citing the recent episode of IndiGo airline which had cancelled a large number of its flights in February and March after Airbus A320 Neo planes were grounded due to safety concerns, he said IndiGo passengers had to book tickets at the last minute on other airlines at exorbitant prices.
--IANS
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