'Direct Nexus With Safety': Delhi High Court Seeks DGCA Stand On Plea To Implement Pilot Resting Norms

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday (January 28) sought stand of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on a plea challenging its decision to keep in abeyance the regulations on Flight Duty Time Limitations, which prescribe minimum resting time for pilots and flight crew members to ensure passenger safety.

The plea states that the norms are meant to strengthen "fatigue management" of pilots. However, following the Indigo fiasco, DGCA decided to keep the the protections in abeyance till 10 February 2026.

"Unless the Regulations are challenged or have an inherent flaw, they have to be enforced. These regulations have direct nexus with safety measures. So the concern expressed in this petition can't be brushed aside," a division bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia orally remarked today.

The plea has been filed by Sabari Roy, a former Aircraft Engineer.

The Respondent party sought to contest Roy's locus to file the petition, adding that a separate plea in relation to FDTL norms has been moved by pilots and is pending before a single bench.

The judges however were of the view that Roy's locus can't be ruled out outrightly, given that she has been an aircraft engineer, whose functions are directly linked to passenger safety.

"It is in public interest...plea before single judge won't debar others," the judges said.

Thereafter, the Court asked Advocate Anjana Gosain, appearing virtually for DGCA, to obtain instructions in the matter by tomorrow.