$~80 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(C) 18718/2025 AKHIL RANA AND ANR .....Petitioners Through: Mr. Akhil Rana and Mr. Utkarsh Sharma (Petitioners in person).

versus UNION OF INDIA AND ORS .....Respondents Through: Mr. Chetan Sharma, ASG alongwith Mr. Ankur Mittal, CGSC, Ms. Anjana Gosain, Senior Panel Counsel, Ms. Akansha Choudhary, Ms. Shreya Manjari, Mr. Amit Gupta, Mr. Aviraj Pandey, Mr. R.V. Prabhat, Mr. Shubham Sharma, Mr. Vikram Singh, Mr. Yoshwardhan Sharma, Mr. Naman, Mr. Hrithik Saxsena, Advocates and Mr. Pavan Malviya, Deputy Director and Mr. Somdutt Sharma, DGCA for R-1 & 2/UOI.

Mr. Sandeep Sethi, Senior Advocatealongwith Mr. Amar Gupta, Mr. Divyam Agarwal, Ms. Pallavi Kumar, Mr. Aniket Aggarwal, Mr. Anirudh Vats and Ms. Priya Chauhan, Advocates for Indigo/R-3.

CORAM:

HON'BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE TUSHAR RAO GEDELA

O R D E R

% 10.12.2025 CM APPL. 77848/2025 (Exemption)

1. Exemption allowed subject to all just exceptions.

2. The application stands disposed of.

W.P.(C) 18718/2025 & CM APPL. 77849/2025

3. This Public Interest Litigation petition filed by two practicing lawyers raises grave concerns over the recent disruptions which occurred in the services being provided by respondent no.3/Indigo Airlines on account of cancellation of large number of flights and delays in flights. Because of the said disruptions which are even continuing as on date, the passengers have been denied boarding and have been stranded at various airports in the country. This situation, created in the past about a week, has not only raised alarm but the disruptions have caused the passengers to face continued inconvenience. Such disruptions have even resulted in unreasonable surge in the fares being charged by other airlines. Because the passengers got stranded on the airports on account of cancellation of flights, the passengers, especially the children and old aged, are even facing health issues as well. It is reported that the staff of the airline concerned has not been attending to these passengers and their problems in an appropriate manner which is expected of the airlines’ staff not only in terms of the various statutory requirements as part of their duty, but as is expected in any civilized society.

4. Having gone through the petition, at the outset, we may express our dissatisfaction in the manner in which the petition has been filed that lacks adequate research, documents and evidence and statutory provisions to support the prayers made therein. However, having regard to immense public interest involved in the matter, we have taken cognizance of the issues raised herein. We expected the petitioners, who are lawyers, to have come better prepared and assist the Court to achieve the purpose for which the petition has been filed.

5. Mr. Chetan Sharma, learned ASG representing respondent nos.1 & 2 namely the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Director General of Civil Aviation (hereinafter referred to as ‘DGCA’) has stated that the crisis has precipitated on account of various non-compliances of the guidelines issued by the respondents from time to time to regulate the Flight Duty Time Limitations (hereinafter referred to as ‘FDTL’) of the crew members. It has been stated that FDTLs are to be implemented by every airline operating in the country. He has also submitted that consequent upon orders of this Court passed in the month of April, 2025, these FDTLs were to be implemented in a phased manner, some, with effect from 01.07.2025 and some others, with effect from 01.11.2025. Mr. Sharma, learned ASG has further stated that so far as the provision in the FDTLs relating to number of flight landings by the pilots is concerned, the same was to be implemented with effect from 01.11.2025 and for the said purpose, the authorities of the respondents have been communicating, coordinating and even supervising so that the respondent no.3 takes adequate steps to ensure compliance of the said FDTLs in respect of the limit of