Passengers who Refuse to Wear Masks or follow Covid Protocols during the Flights shall be put on the No-Fly List: Delhi High Court

CASE: Delhi High Court vs Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) 

COURT: Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Sachin Dutta

In the above-mentioned case, the Delhi High Court in its suo moto petition filed by Justice C Hari Shakar was hearing a case in relation to non-adherence of covid protocols and refusing to wear masks by the air passengers. 

The case was initiated when Justice Hari Shankar saw his fellow passengers on the Kolkata - New Delhi flight not adhering to social distancing protocol and refusing to wear masks on the flight. He had then through his single bench issued certain guidelines for mask mandates including keeping passengers who don't follow the protocols on the no-fly list. 

Pursuant to this, the bench of acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Sachin Dutta ordered the DGCA to issue separate guidelines to all the air passengers authorizing airport staff, pilots, and crew members to take strict action against all the passengers who are violating covid protocol rules by not maintaining social distancing and refusing to wear masks. Such passengers shall be put on the no-fly list by the airline and issued a fine for non-compliance.