Make hoax calls to airlines punishable offence: Panel

A Parliamentary panel has suggested  making hoax calls to airlines a punishable offence under the proposed Anti-Hijacking Bill.

The report of the Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture led by Trinamool Congress MP K D Singh, tabled in Parliament on Wednesday, made the recommendation, as there is an increase in the instances of receiving such calls that trigger panic resulting in “serious complications” to passengers.

In its meeting on January 30, the committee raised the issue of making punishment for making hoax calls.

The Association of Private Airport Operators also appealed to the panel to add a new provision to cover the offence committed by any person by way of communication of information of hijack, which he knows is false so as to create panic.

On the other hand, Civil Aviation Ministry informed the panel that the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against Safety of Civil Aviation Act, 1982 already covers the instances of hoax calls.

It said the punishment for the offender is imprisonment for life and fine. However, the panel in its recommendations insisted that a new provision might be made in the Bill to cover "hoax calls" with a commensurate punishment.