An IndiGo flight prepares to take off from Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru
Credit: PTI Photo
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday declined to entertain a plea in connection with the chaos caused by cancellation and delays of flights by IndiGo airline.
The court, instead, asked the petitioner to approach the High Court for relief.
"We appreciate the issue but instead of parallel proceedings, you go to High Court," a bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, and also Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi told a petitioner.
The court noted that the same matter pertaining to IndiGo crisis was pending before the Delhi HC for disposal.
It asked the HC to allow the petitioner, Narendra Mishra to intervene in the case pending before it.
"The petitioner, advocate Narendra Mishra, is at liberty to join the proceedings before the High Cout," the court said.
The low cost carrier, Indigo has been severely hit by shortage of pilots due to its failure to implement the new Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) forcing its passengers / flyers to face chaos, confusion and difficulty across various airports in the country.
When Mishra insisted that everyday passengers were facing difficulties, the bench acknowledged that the matter is of grave concern.
However, the court clarified, it cannot intervene since a constitutional court (in the Delhi HC) is already hearing the matter.
"It is also a constitutional court. If your grievances are not redressed then you can come here," the bench told the petitioner.
The court also pointed out that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation has already formed an expert committee to look into the Indigo situation.