Bombay high court appoints panel to address issues faced by elderly and disabled airline passengers

MUMBAI: “We are really concerned about senior citizens,” said the Bombay high court on Tuesday as it appointed a three-member special panel to examine, from every angle, issues faced by elderly and disabled airline passengers.
The panel, to be headed by former Andhra Pradesh high court Judge, Justice Goda Raghuram, will include consumer activist Shirish Deshpande and a representative from the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
It is to hear all stakeholders, including airlines, airport operators, passengers, and the Disability Commission, and make recommendations based on which the DGCA is to set out workable norms for the benefit of senior citizens, those with disabilities or reduced mobility, and other special needs persons.
Justices Girish Kulkarni and Advait Sethna, who appointed the panel, informed the Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, who appeared on Tuesday for the DGCA, that the panel would, in fact, “be very useful” to the central governing body, whose “proactive stand” it has appreciated.
The HC said at the hearing on Monday of two separate petitions filed by three passengers, including one 80-year-old. Their counse Asim Naphade said they had difficulties getting a wheelchair at the Mumbai International Airport recently.
The HC said during the hearing emergent issues arose concerning the basic rights of seniors and persons with disabilities, reduced mobilities, while flying. Passengers may have emergencies on flight or at the airports, the facilities and actions need to be preventive and preemptive the HC had said on Monday.
“After deliberations, the committee is to recommend what are the essential requirements and norms for consideration of DGCA,” the bench said, reading out from its order. The panel’s role is purely recommendatory, and it is for the DGCA ultimately to consider the recommendations and take an appropriate decision, the HC said. “It is only a social service exercise,” Justice Kulkarni remarked.
The next date is now June 30, 2025, thus the committee has two and a half months to work. Senior counsel Zal Andhyarujina for Air India said the HC has “perfectly balanced all rights.”