The Delhi High Court on Friday has directed the Ministry of Civil Aviation to address a representation regarding the inefficiencies of the AirSewa portal within 4 weeks. This directive arose during a hearing of a Public Interest Litigation concerning the portal’s ineffectiveness as a grievance redressal mechanism for air travelers.
Background
The PIL, filed by the NGO Pravasi Legal Cell through advocate Manas P. Hameed, emphasized the portal’s failure to adequately resolve complaints, particularly affecting Indian citizens abroad who rely on it for addressing travel-related issues. The petition indicated that the AirSewa portal, which had initially operated effectively, has significantly deteriorated over the past year, leading to a backlog of unresolved grievances.
Issues Raised
The inefficiency of the AirSewa portal has compelled many individuals to seek redressal through consumer courts in India, which poses significant challenges for Indian citizens residing abroad. Logistical difficulties, including geographical distance and time zone differences, complicate their ability to navigate legal proceedings from overseas. The petition highlighted that this situation places an undue burden on these individuals, who should be able to depend on the AirSewa portal for timely resolution of their issues.
Judicial Intervention Requested
The petitioner pointed out that despite multiple representations to relevant authorities, including the Ministry of Civil Aviation, no substantial improvements have been made to the portal’s functionality. Therefore, immediate judicial intervention has been sought to address these public interest concerns.
Conclusion
The Delhi High Court’s directive emphasizes the urgent need for corrective measures to be implemented by the Ministry of Civil Aviation to restore the efficacy of the AirSewa portal and ensure timely grievance resolution for all air travelers, especially those living abroad.
