New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the Civil Aviation Ministry and DGCA on a PIL which sought full refund of airfares on tickets booked before the lockdown for travelling during this lockdown period, as the flights have been cancelled by the airlines.
Justice SK Kaul observed that not refunding tickets is arbitrary and the relief should be entitled to all irrespective of period of booking as lockdown has affected every one's travel plans.
PIL was filed in the Supreme Court on 20th April seeking refund of the full amount of airfares which people paid for bookings in the domestic as well as international flights before the lockdown.
It sought to declare that airlines not refunding the full amount of booking after cancellation due to the lockdown amid corona virus, is in violation of the Civil Aviation Requirement issued by the Directorate General Of Civil Aviation.
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Citing the aviation ministry's 16th April order which directed to pay only those who booked during the lockdown, the petitioner contended that the order is ambiguous and devoid of any logic as there is no question of people booking tickets during the lockdown as the flights were cancelled. Moreover it leaves majority of the passengers who had booked tickets before the flight ban, added the PIL.
