COMMON CAUSE Vs. INDIAN AIRLINES

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner-Common Cause, a registered Consumer Association-has filed this petition through its Director, Shri H.D. Shourie voicing various grounds of grievance against the Indian Airlines, the International Airport Authority of India, the National Airport Authority of India and the Director General of Civil Aviation, Government of India relating to alleged lack of attention to the safety of aircraft and the passengers travelling by Indian Airlines, alleged lack of proper facilities such as landing aids etc. in the various airfields in the country, alleged inconvenience caused to passengers on account of the delay in operation of flights, omission to give timely information regarding delayed or cancelled flights, delay in baggage clearance and unsatisfactory in flight catering etc. The Petitioner has also impleaded the State Governments and the local authorities who are statutorily obliged to take steps for avoidance of bird-menace near the various airfields in the country.

(2.) The Indian Airlines as well as International Airport Authority of India and the National Airport Authority of India have filed detailed statements before us setting out the various steps that they have already taken as well as those which they propose to take in future for setting right whatever grievances that are actually found to exist in respect of the various matters pointed out by the Petitioner. The State Governments of West Bengal, Maharashtra and the Central Government have filed statements before us detailing the action that has already been taken by them and the further course of action which will be adopted by them for eliminating, to the maximum extent possible, the danger to aircraft from birds hovering near the airports. The New' Delhi Municipal Committee and the Municipal Corporation of Pallavaram have also filed similar statements before us. We record the assurances given to this Commission by the various authorities in their respective statements. In the light of the averments contained therein detailing the steps already taken by the various authorities and the assurances contained in these statements, Shri Shourie appearing on behalf of the Complainant society, very fairly, stated before us that the steps already taken and the assurances, if duly carried out, will adequately go to rectify the grievances of the consumers and hence he does not wish to pursue this matter any further at this stage before this Commission. We record this submission by Shri Shourie.

(3.) We entertain no doubt that the Indian Airlines, the National Airport Authority of India, the International Airport Authority of India and the Director General of Civil Aviation will take prompt action in implementation of the assurances given to this Commission. Likewise, we feel fully confident that similar action for implementation of their assurances will be taken by the municipal authorities which have filed statements before us. The complaint petition will stand disposed of with the above observations. The statements filed by the respective authorities referred to above will form part of this order. Petition disposed of.