The Delhi High Court on Tuesday sought a response from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on a contempt petition filed by the Indian Pilots Guild (IPG), which alleged that airlines were granted extensions and relaxations in pilot fatigue management rules in violation of the Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) 2024 framework.
A bench of Justice Amit Sharma issued notice to the DGCA and directed its top officials to file their responses in the matter. The court listed the case for the next hearing on April 17, 2026.
Brief overview of the case
The issue arose after the DGCA granted IndiGo a temporary, one-time exemption from night operations–related changes under the new Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms for its Airbus A320 pilots. Pilot bodies cited this exemption as an example of how the rules were being diluted.
The plea contends that the DGCA diluted the new FDTL norms by approving airline-specific schemes that do not fully comply with the timelines and conditions previously placed before the court.
DGCA’s argument
Opposing the contempt plea, DGCA’s counsel argued that the court had not frozen the contents of the CAR. While the implementation timelines were binding, the regulator retained statutory powers under the Aircraft Act and Rules to grant temporary, case-specific exemptions.
It was further argued that such relaxations were limited in nature, subject to review, and that the CAR remains in force. The counsel also noted that the issue is already pending before a High Court division bench.
According to the petition, the High Court had earlier recorded the DGCA’s assurance that the new FDTL norms would be implemented in a phased manner, with most provisions coming into force by July 1, 2025, and the remaining ones by November 1, 2025.
The pilots’ body alleged that despite this assurance, the regulator granted relaxations to airlines without obtaining the court’s permission, thereby undermining fatigue rules designed to safeguard both flight and passenger safety.
In November 2025, the Federation of Indian Pilots moved the contempt petition, alleging that the DGCA deliberately failed to comply with the High Court’s directions.
The union further claimed that, despite assurances to the court, the regulator granted extensions and relaxations to airlines and approved fatigue management schemes that did not align with the CAR 2024 norms or the agreed timelines.
Meanwhile, a PIL has been filed before the Delhi High Court seeking four times compensation of tickets recently cancelled by Indigo airlines and a judicial enquiry against DGCA for alleged lapses. The matter will be heard tomorrow.