The Delhi High Court has intervened in a growing dispute over pilot fatigue regulations, directing the country's aviation regulator to explain its actions. This comes after the Indian Pilots Guild (IPG) filed a contempt petition, accusing the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) of violating a court-mandated agreement on new safety rules.
Court Notice and Alleged Violations
Justice Amit Sharma has officially issued a notice to the DGCA, seeking its formal response to the contempt allegations. The court has scheduled the next hearing in this significant case for 17 April 2026. The core of the pilots' union's argument is that the DGCA granted unauthorized extensions and relaxations to airlines concerning the new Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) rules, known as CAR 2024.
The IPG contends that these actions dilute the fatigue management norms and breach a prior commitment given to the High Court. The court had previously recorded the DGCA's assurance that the new FDTL rules would be implemented in two clear phases: most provisions by 1 July 2025, and the remainder by 1 November 2025.
The Conflict Over Exemptions and Safety
The pilots' body asserts that by issuing relaxations without the court's consent, the regulator has undermined rules critical for flight and passenger safety. A specific example cited is the temporary, one-time exemption granted to IndiGo on 5 December. This exemption, issued amidst mass flight cancellations, relaxed specific night operations-related changes for the airline's Airbus A320 pilots.
In its defence, the DGCA's counsel opposed the contempt plea. They argued that while the implementation timeline remains binding, the regulator retains inherent statutory powers under the Aircraft Act and Rules to grant limited, case-specific, and temporary exemptions. The DGCA also stated that the matter of variances is already under review by a High Court division bench.
Probe into IndiGo's Operational Disruptions
Separately, a four-member probe panel constituted by DGCA chief Faiz Ahmed Kidwai visited the headquarters of IndiGo on Monday. The panel's mission is to investigate the root cause of the large-scale operational disruptions and flight cancellations that affected the airline earlier this month.
Sources indicated that the team spent the entire day at the airline's headquarters, examining multiple aspects of its operations and infrastructure. The investigation aims to pinpoint the factors that led to the significant chaos and service interruptions experienced by passengers.
This dual development—a legal challenge over safety rules and a direct probe into operational failures—highlights the intense scrutiny on India's aviation sector following recent disruptions. The outcome of the High Court case could set a major precedent for how pilot fatigue regulations are enforced in the future.
