HC to DGCA: No Tampering with Pilot Rest norms amid flight duty dispute

The Delhi High Court has issued notices to the DGCA, the Central government, and IndiGo following a PIL challenging temporary exemptions to the Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) rules, highlighting ongoing concerns about pilot safety, airline compliance, and passenger rights. The Court’s intervention underscores the tension between regulatory mandates and operational disruptions in India’s civil aviation sector.

The litigation stems from the DGCA’s temporary abeyance of stricter pilot duty and rest norms introduced in 2025, aimed at reducing fatigue and enhancing safety. Airlines, particularly IndiGo, struggled to comply, causing mass flight cancellations and delays in December 2025. Petitioners argued that the DGCA lacked authority to suspend the rules and demanded that the new FDTL regulations be enforced immediately.

They also challenged airlines’ claims of being “low cost” without legal recognition and sought action against IndiGo for failing to provide amenities such as meals, refreshments, and hotel accommodations during cancellations.

The Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia sought detailed responses from the DGCA, the Union government, and IndiGo. DGCA counsel Anjana Gosain clarified, “Weekly rest is non-negotiable, and it cannot be tampered with. No relaxation has been given to any of the airlines… Weekly rest remains in operation.” She also noted that limited relief for night operations was granted to IndiGo only until February 10.

The Court converted the matter into a formal hearing and listed it for follow-up after four weeks.

Disclaimer: This news/ article includes information received via a syndicated news feed. The original rights remain with the respective publisher.