The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), a statutory body of the Government of India (GOI), has informed the Delhi High Court that it cannot interfere in the employment agreement between pilots and Akasa Air. The Indian (low-cost) airline has sought action against pilots who have quit without serving their notice period.
It would be in the interest of the parties that the petitioner airline (Akasa Air) complies with the mandate of the aviation regulator to maintain a limited schedule if it does not have the required strength of pilots to maintain flight operations, said the DGCA.
In response to a plea by the fledgling airline, the civil aviation regulator filed its written submissions. The company said that it was in a state of trouble following the rash and abrupt resignation of 43 pilots. The airline said that the pilots left the airline without serving the mandatory notice period.
On the airline’s plea on September 19, Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora had reserved his order. The bench has asked the parties to file their written submissions.
On September 14, the airline and its CEO Vinay Dube knocked the doors of the high court with their petition. The company sought direction to the DGCA to take strict action against these pilots for their “irresponsible actions”.
DGCA’s response
The DGCA, in its response, informed that it does not have any power (or delegated authority) to interfere in any employment contract and decisions in respect of airport operators, airline operators, or any other stakeholders.
“The DGCA cannot interfere in the employment agreement between the airline and the pilot which itself contains the mechanism of termination of pilots…,” the DGCA said while urging the court to dismiss the petition of the airline.
Regarding the claim of the airline of cancellation of nearly 600 flights since June because of the resignations of pilots, the DGCA categorically denied that Akasa Air has provided any documents (or reasons) to it for the same.
(With PTI inputs)