HC asks what if schools, hospitals increase charges in difficult times like airlines

Whether institutions in pharmacy, healthcare, education sectors can increase their charges or fees, as done by aviation sector, while "encashing upon the difficulties" faced by public at large, the Delhi High Court sought to know Tuesday from the DGCA.

The court's query came while hearing two PILs seeking capping of air fares charged by the various airlines in the country.

"Which are the other institutions behaving like airlines, those which are encashing upon the difficulties of others and of public at large those which are encashing on negative situations. Think about it and answer," A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and C Hari Shankar said.

The court posed the query to the counsel for Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) who submitted that the rules do not include capping of prices and it was not an economic regulator.

The counsel said DGCA was only regulating safety and security of operations of airlines.

The court said if all the institutions like schools, colleges, hospitals, pharmaceutical and media will do like this (as done by airlines), what will happen?