Supreme Court slams Centre for not filing affidavit on plea to control 'unpredictable' airfares

A plea filed in November 2025 had sought a robust and independent regulator that ensures transparency and passenger protection across the civil aviation sector.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday pulled up the Centre for not filing its affidavit in response to a plea seeking regulatory guidelines to control the "unpredictable fluctuations" in airfare and ancillary charges imposed by private airlines in India.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta asked the Centre to file an application along with an affidavit giving reasons for why the affidavit has not been filed and why further time was sought for it.

During the hearing, the counsel for the petitioner, social activist S Laxminarayanan submitted that the Centre had not filed its reply despite earlier directions. The government’s counsel, however, cited the evolving situation in the Middle East as a reason for the delay.

On this, the bench asked, “What is this? What prevents you from filing an affidavit?”

The counsel also submitted that rules were under consideration.

The bench, however, told the counsel, “You file an affidavit and place everything on record. Why can't you file an affidavit? What is this stand of the Union? Three times we have granted you time.”

The court also refused to grant three weeks time for the purpose and said the affidavit should be filed next week.

"We are not willing to accept the request. Let an appropriate application along with an affidavit giving reasons for why affidavit has not been filed and why further time is being sought, be filed within a week. List again on May 11," the bench said.

On November 17 last year, the court sought responses from the Centre and others on the plea, which sought a robust and independent regulator that ensures transparency and passenger protection across the civil aviation sector.