Need more time to examine unpredictable airfares, Govt tells SC

New Delhi: The government on Monday told the Supreme Court it needs more time to examine unpredictable airfares amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia, which has pushed up aviation turbine fuel prices and led to flight cancellations and rerouting. Granting four weeks to file its response, a bench led by Justice Vikram Nath observed, "there are bigger problems the government is handling at the moment. Many more bigger issues".

Last month, additional solicitor general Anil Kaushik had informed the court that the issue of volatile airfares and additional charges by airlines was being discussed at the "highest level" and a response would be filed within four weeks. However, no response was submitted on Monday.

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The Supreme Court had earlier termed the issue of unpredictable fluctuations in airfares and ancillary charges by private airlines as "serious", expressing concern over sharp price increases during festive seasons and holidays.

Hearing a PIL by social activist S Laxminarayanan seeking regulatory guidelines to control unpredictable fluctuations in airfares, the court had directed the Centre to examine the issue and submit an affidavit within four weeks outlining steps to address the concerns. "This is a very serious concern. Otherwise, we don't entertain Article 32 petition (for enforcement of fundamental rights)," the judges had observed then.

Last week, the Centre withdrew airfare caps introduced in December to curb a spike in ticket prices following widespread flight cancellations by IndiGo.

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In November, the court had sought responses from the government, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India on the plea seeking clear rules and an independent regulator to curb airfare volatility and additional charges.