Air India Urination Case: Supreme Court Issues Notice To DGCA In Victim's Plea Seeking Guidelines Against Passenger Misconduct

The Supreme Court today issued notice to the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in the plea filed by the 72-year-old victim in the Air India urination incident who has sought directions to the DGCA and Airline companies to lay down SoPs and regulations to deal with incidents of passenger misconduct on board. The matter was listed before a bench comprising CJI DY Chandrachud, Justice PS Narasimha, and Justice JB Pardiwala with the petitioner being represented by Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan. 

While highlighting several instances of passenger misconduct on board from 2014 to 2023, which were not dealt with properly by the Air India, the petition sought for guidelines. It claimed that the crew coerced her to enter a “settlement” with the passenger who urinated on her and the DGCA failed to treat her with care and responsibility. It adds that whereas DGCA’s Cabin Safety Circular requires the airline to report to the DGCA such incidents of unruly behaviour of passengers and additionally submit a written report, cabin crew along with the Pilot in-command failed to alert the Air Traffic Controller regarding the incident.

The plea cites Rule 22 and 29 of the Aircraft Rules 1937 which provide that acts by any person on board an aircraft which constitutes assault, damage to property of any passenger or consumption of alcohol which can lead to jeopardizing other passengers as offenses which are to be dealt with very firmly. Petitioner says that framing of SoP is essential to ensure their compliance.

CJI DY Chandrachud orally asked for the assistance of the Solicitor General Tushar Mehta in the matter and said–

"Mr Solicitor, this is that Air India matter. The woman says that a protocol should be prepared by government. We're issuing notice. Please assist."

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