Apex court bars airlines from charging transaction fees

January 24, 2013

court_apex New Delhi, Jan 24: In a relief to air passengers, the Supreme Court on Wednesday barred all airlines from charging transaction fees from flyers.

A bench of justices D K Jain and Madan B Lokur also pulled up the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for failing to ensure that the passengers were not burdened with such charges.

Air passengers are made to pay transaction fees varying between three to six per cent of the total fare by travel agents for booking flights.

The bench also expressed displeasure over the DGCA failing to enforce its December 17 circular, restraining the airlines from levying transaction fees. The court said its restraint order will be in operation until the appellate authority takes a call on the matter, since the Federation of Indian Airlines had challenged the validity of the circular before the secretary of the Civil Aviation Ministry.

Representing FIA, senior counsel U U Lalit submitted that the airlines had approached the Delhi High Court on Tuesday, which had told them to approach the appellate authority, besides directing that no coercive action will be taken against them by the DGCA.

The apex court brushed aside the plea saying that there was no stay on the circular.

“But it does not mean that you can continue charging. There is no stay of the circular. We are of the view that the December 17 circular is still in force. Hence, transaction fee cannot be charged as a part of the total fare. You can not start charging it again under a different nomenclature,” the court said.

During the hearing, the bench also directed the DGCA to examine the tariff structure and how the base fare was being charged even though a ticket was booked seven days in advance.

“There are several bands for fixing the base price which in certain cases range from Rs 1,120 to Rs 36,000. We are of prima facie view that regarding wide range of basic fair, it will be necessary for the DGCA to examine the tariff structure of the airlines,” the bench said.

It also noted that there were no criteria with regard to fare bands and no transparency on availability of seats.

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Gujarat massacre: SC fixes April 14 for hearing Zakia Jafri’s plea against SIT’s clean chit to Modi

Agencies

February 4,2020

New Delhi, Feb 4: Saying the matter had been adjourned many times and it will have to hear it someday, the Supreme Court on Tuesday fixed April 14 for hearing a plea by Zakia Jafri, wife of slain MP Ehsan Jafri, challenging the SIT's clean chit to then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi in the 2002 riots.

A bench comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari posted the matter for hearing in April after Zakia's counsel sought an adjournment and urged the court to post it after the Holi vacation.

When advocate Aparna Bhat, appearing for Zakia, told the court that the issue in the matter is contentious, the bench said, "It has been adjourned so many times, whatever it is, we will have to hear it someday. Take one date and make sure you all are available." Zakia had filed a petition in the apex court in 2018 challenging the Gujarat High Court's October 5, 2017 order rejecting her plea against the decision of the Special Investigation Team.

Ehsan Jafri was among the 68 people killed at Gulberg Society on February 28, 2002, a day after the S-6 Coach of the Sabarmati Express was burnt at Godhra killing 59 people and triggering riots in Gujarat.

On February 8, 2012, the SIT filed a closure report giving a clean chit to Modi and 63 others, including senior government officials, saying there was "no prosecutable evidence" against them.

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No use.. will Supreme court gives justice???

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Prisoners to be employed in petrol pumps in Kerala

Agencies

July 31,2020

Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 31: In Kerala, the prisoners will now work as employees in petrol pumps and take home a salary, as the Kerala government has rolled out Petrol Pumps from jail premises in association with Indian Oil Corporation.

Speaking to news agency, Rishiraj Singh, Jail DGP said that initiative to employ jail inmates in petrol pumps was taken as in Kerala there are many projects of which prisoners are a part of and are being employed.

"In petrol pumps, 15 jail inmates will be employed at each pump. The outlets of Thiruvananthapuram, Viyyur and Cheemeni jails have been started to function from today.

Many express doubt whether the prisoners will try to escape. But my experience working with them prove otherwise. They are managing five cafeterias in the state and selling food prepared by them. We pay them Rs 220 per day for their work and the jail inmates are running it successfully particularly at COVID-19 times," he said.

The Indian Oil Corporation is investing around Rs 9.5 crore to set up four petrol pumps at the jail premises. The share of the jail department is Rs 30 lakh for setting up petroleum outlet. Other than the three presently, it will also be started in Kannur jail.

"The land has been leased to the Indian Oil Corporation for 30 years. The prisoners are employed here and for that, they underwent a training in petrol pump of IOC and the uniform will also be supplied by them, " said Rishiraj Singh About 25 cents in Thiruvananthapuram, 39 cents in Kannur, 25 cents in Viyur and 25 cents in Cheemeni open jail have been allotted.

Through this, the government will get Rs 5.9 lakh per month in rent.

It also plans to expand the project in the future by setting up a CNG and electrical charging station.

The petrol pumps will be also accompanied by public comfort stations.

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Sushant Singh Rajput's death: Centre OKs Bihar govt's request for CBI probe; SC says 'truth should come out'

Agencies

August 5,2020

Mumbai, Aug 5: A day after the Bihar government requested for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the death of Sushant Singh Rajput, the Centre has accepted the state’s request.

The CBI, which falls under the Union Home Ministry, will now take over the probe. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta on Wednesday stated in the apex court that the Centre has accepted the request floated by the Nitish Kumar government recommending a CBI inquiry.

A bench of Justice Hrishikesh Roy observed that truth behind the 34-year-old Rajput's death should come out. "Truth should come out so far as actor's death is concerned," the SC bench said as reported by news agency.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is also hearing a petition filed by model-actress Rhea Chakraborty who was in a relationship with the deceased actor. In her plea, she sought the transfer of an FIR lodged in Patna by Rajput's father, K K Singh, who had accused her of abetting his suicide.

The 34-year-old actor was found hanging from the ceiling of his apartment in suburban Bandra in Mumbai on June 14.

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