Delhi High Court: A Division Bench of D.N. Patel, CJ and Prateek Jalan, J., while addressing a Public Interest Litigation, held that,
“fixing of the fare is a complex phenomenon and a decision to be taken by the Government. It is a policy decision and this Court is not inclined to interfere in this policy decision.”
Present Public Interest Litigation was preferred challenging the minimum fares which are fixed by Ministry of Civil Aviation vide its 21st May, 2020 Order.
Petitioners Counsel submitted that the difference in fare prices will lead to fixation of prices by the cartel of the airlines.
Bench while disagreeing with petitioners contention stated that, in the present circumstances when various restrictions have been placed on the airline operations, and maximum limit for air fare is given by the Government, the minimum fare is also prescribed so as to strike a balance between the passengers as well as the airlines agency
Exercise of tariff fixation, and economic matters in general, are issues on which the writ court would generally refrain from exercising jurisdiction, unless found to be totally arbitrary or unreasonable.
Further the Court observed that it ought to be kept in mind that this fixation of minimum and maximum fares is for the journey to be performed only for essential purposes.
Section 8B(1) of the Aircraft Act, 1934 specifically clothes the Central Government with the power to take necessary measures to minimise the possible danger to public health in the event of outbreak of any dangerous epidemic.
Thus, in view of the COVID19 pandemic, power exercised by respondents cannot be said to be arbitrary or unreasonable.
Ministry of Civil Aviation’s order as mentioned above is only a stop gap arrangement for which present PIL is not tenable.
Lastly the Court concluded it’s Order by stating that, “problem being faced by everyone during this pandemic situation is such a unique phenomenon that requires experimental solutions. There cannot be any mathematical solution for a problem like this.”
In view of the above observations, petition was disposed of. [Veer Vikrant Chauhan v. UOI, 2020 SCC OnLine Del 627, decided on 04-06-2020]
