High Court asks Air India to file statement

Resumption of cancelled flights

A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Monday directed Air India to file a statement on the resumption of cancelled flights to destinations in West Asia.

A Bench comprising Justice K.M. Joseph and Justice K. Harilal issued the directive on a petition filed by the Centre for Non-resident Indians and Returnees (CNIR) against the recent cancellation of flights by Air India. The statement should be filed by October 5, the court ordered.

Counsel for the Centre and Air India submitted that flight services had already been resumed from September 29, when the petition was taken up for hearing.

According to the petitioner, passengers to various destinations in West Asia had to face severe hardships because of immediate cancellations of flights by the Air India without notice.

To help private airlines

The petitioner alleged that the action of Air India in cancelling flights was to help certain private airlines and politicians.

The petitioner said the decision to cancel the flights was taken on the instructions from Union Minister for Civil Aviation Ajith Singh.

The reason for cancellation was to arrange flights for Haj pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh, the State from where the Civil Aviation Minster hailed, the petitioner said.

The cancellation of flights without notice was arbitrary and illegal.

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/high-court-asks-air-india-to-file-statement/article3957109.ece