The High Court was hearing a suo motu petition registered by Justice C Hari Shankar in March last year regarding non-adherence by air passengers to social distancing norms and COVID protocol like wearing masks.
Interestingly, the Delhi High Court judge was prompted to initiate the case after his personal experience on a Kolkata-New Delhi flight when obstinate fellow passengers refused to wear masks properly and adhere to Covid appropriate behaviour despite repeated exhortations.
The single-judge had then issued guidelines towards mask mandates and pandemic protocol, including considering placing unruly passengers on the no-fly list.
The present Bench effectively sought to make the same binding in today’s order.
Counsel for the DGCA submitted that none of the COVID protocol and standards have been diluted and appropriate directions had been issued in compliance with the earlier order.
Justice Sanghi stated that the problem lay in implementation of the order.
“Tell staff to implement this strictly and authorise them to take strict action on those not masking. Impose heavy fines,” the Bench remarked.
When another counsel gave the example of how masks can be continuously remove citing excuses like sipping coffee, the Bench remarked that the endeavour is to minimise the risk.
Justice Sanghi also orally expressed concern with the spurt of cases in Mumbai.
The order stated that the pandemic has not abated and keeps ‘springing up its ugly head every now and then’, sparing not even the DGCA counsel who had to appear virtually on account of being infected with COVID.
[Follow our coverage of today’s hearing]
