Airfare surges during festivals ‘exploitative’, says Supreme Court
GS2Polity · Governance · IR· Judiciary & landmark judgments· Prelims + Mains·
Why in news
The Supreme Court observed that unpredictable fluctuations in airfares during festivals are 'exploitative' and expressed intent to intervene to address erratic pricing by private airlines.
Background
The Supreme Court heard a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking binding regulatory guidelines to curb erratic pricing and ancillary charges. The court specifically highlighted exorbitant fare hikes on the Delhi-Prayagraj and Jodhpur routes during festival seasons.
Facts for Prelims
- BodySupreme Court: The highest judicial body in India that can issue binding regulatory guidelines.
- FactThe court specifically cited the Delhi-Prayagraj and Jodhpur routes as examples of exploitative fare hikes.
- PostJustice Mehta: Presided over the bench hearing the PIL regarding airline pricing.
For Mains
Q. Examine the role of the judiciary in regulating private sector pricing mechanisms to protect consumer rights against exploitative market fluctuations.
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- Regulatory vacuum: Absence of a statutory price ceiling for domestic air travel leading to arbitrary pricing
- Consumer protection: Balancing market-driven pricing models with the need to prevent predatory pricing during peak demand
- Judicial activism: The extent of judicial intervention in commercial pricing policies versus executive regulatory oversight
Keywords: Judicial Review · Consumer Protection · Market Regulation · Price Volatility · Public Interest Litigation
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This note is generated automatically from SatyaDheesh's news feed and mapped to the UPSC CSE syllabus. Check facts against the original report or PIB before using them in an answer.