The Supreme Court on Monday declined to accord an urgent hearing to a plea seeking judicial intervention regarding the massive disruption of IndiGo flight operations. The Apex Court observed that the Central Government is already “cognizant” of the crisis and has initiated necessary measures to resolve the situation.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant and comprising Justice Joymalya Bagchi acknowledged the severity of the issue, noting that lakhs of passengers remain stranded across the country. However, the Court expressed confidence in the executive’s handling of the matter.
“It is a serious matter. Lakhs of people are stranded at the airports. We know that the government of India has taken timely action and cognizance of the issue. We know people may have health issues and other important issues etc.,” Chief Justice Kant remarked while addressing the plea.
The request for urgent listing was mentioned by a lawyer who highlighted the plight of passengers facing abrupt cancellations without prior intimation. The counsel argued that the situation has spiraled, with approximately 2,500 flights delayed and operations affected at 95 airports nationwide.
“The cancellations are not informed to the flyers,” the lawyer submitted, emphasizing the confusion and distress among travellers. despite these submissions, the Court maintained that since the Centre is actively seizing the issue, immediate judicial interference was not required at this stage.
The crisis, which began on December 2, entered its seventh day on Monday, with no immediate signs of abatement. IndiGo, the country’s largest carrier, has faced severe backlash from both passengers and regulatory authorities. The airline has cited adjustments to new regulatory norms regarding pilot flight duty times as the primary cause for the operational meltdown.
Sources indicate that on Monday alone, over 250 IndiGo flights were cancelled at major hubs:
- Delhi Airport: 134 flights cancelled (75 departures and 59 arrivals).
- Bengaluru Airport: 117 services cancelled (65 arrivals and 62 departures).
The continued disruption has left thousands of passengers stranded at terminals, sparking heated exchanges and chaos at check-in counters across the network. While the Supreme Court has stepped back to allow the government to manage the operational crisis, the pressure remains on the Civil Aviation Ministry and the airline to restore normalcy immediately.
