In a significant ruling on Monday, the Bombay High Court criticized the inadequate facilities for senior citizens and specially-abled persons at airports across the country, emphasizing the urgent need for improvements to prevent suffering.
A division bench, comprising Justices G S Kulkarni and Advait Sethna, addressed the issue during the hearing of two petitions—one filed by a senior citizen and her daughter, and another by a 53-year-old man—highlighting the non-availability of wheelchairs and other necessary amenities at Mumbai International Airport.
The justices pointed out the dire need for facilities like wheelchairs to be readily available to alleviate the discomfort of travelers. “Facilities should be available before time. This is an airport where sometimes flights get delayed for hours. For a normal person, such delays may not matter, but for senior citizens or those who are specially-abled, such delays bring in a lot of agony and trauma,” Justice Kulkarni stated.
The court criticized the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and airline companies for not taking initiative to provide these facilities on their own (suo motu). It underscored that India should lead by example in implementing the highest international standards.
In one of the petitions, an 81-year-old woman had to give up her wheelchair for her daughter suffering from acute arthritis after they were provided only one mobility aid upon landing. The court rejected the DGCA’s excuse of a wheelchair shortage due to overbooking, calling for immediate preventive measures as these are issues of human rights.
“We are concerned about human lives. Nobody should suffer. What is required is sensitivity from the airport management authority and all airlines,” the bench emphasized.
The court proposed forming a committee of experts to examine the issues thoroughly. This committee is expected to hold meetings with all stakeholders and submit a report, which would then be considered by the DGCA for creating guidelines.
Heavy penalties for airline companies showing negligence were also suggested by the court. “When a passenger dies inside an aircraft or faces any other issue, then it amounts to neglect on the part of the airlines. This is basic human rights,” the justices added, noting that in foreign countries, children, senior citizens, and specially-abled persons are given the highest respect, unlike in India.
