Allow Cookies!
By using our website, you agree to the use of cookies
The High Court of Bombay, on 2nd June 2020, Tuesday, has sought to seek response from the centre as to how many passengers have tested positive under the Vande Bharat mission from different countries, where they weren’t positive before taking the flight, but were tested positive after landing in India. Court directed the centre to submit a report on 3rd June and the hearing on the matter is due on 4th June, Thursday.
The matter was heard by a Divisional Bench, Justice SJ Kathawalla and Justice SP Tavade. The petition was filed by Commander Deven Y Kanani of Air India who relied upon circular issued by the Government of India dated 23rd March, and it was alleged that the national carrier has violated the guidelines of the circular stating that the middle seats weren’t kept empty during the evacuation of the stranded passengers from USA as a part of the Vande Bharat Mission.
Additional Solicitor General, Anil Singh appeared on behalf of the Centre and urged that the Ministry of Civil Aviation should be made party to the case. The bench noted that and said the same would be done after receiving an application from the Ministry.
Tushar Mehta, the Solicitor General of India appeared on behalf of the DGCA and Air India and assured that no such violations took place, and the special flights have complied with all the safety measures and social distancing norms, keeping in view of the on-going pandemic.
Mehta also informed the Bench, DGCA has been directed to keep the middle seat vacant and if that’s not possible than additional protective gears to be provided such as three-layered masks, face shields etc is being provided by the National flight to such occupants.
Affidavit filed on behalf of Air India states that the company has planned to bring back over 70,000 Indians by 16th June and 85,000 in the third phase of evacuation. The data also reveals that over 6.5 lakhs Indian stranded abroad have reached out seeking to be rescued, due to the on-going Pandemic.
While hearing the present petition on 22nd May, the High Court of Bombay had concluded that DGCA circular directing the airlines to keep the middle seat empty was applicable only to the Air India’s non schedule flights. Hence the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Air India have moved to Supreme Court against the Order of High Court.
On 25th May, in a special sitting, the Supreme Court allowed Air India to operate non scheduled flights with the booking of middle seat for up to 10 days till 6th June. Following the order of Supreme Court, DGCA directed airlines to prevent the booking of the middle seats or to provide wrap-around gowns to the passengers allotted middle seats.
86540
103860
630
114
59824