HC forms expert panel to examine wheelchair, other facilities at airports for senior citizens, specially abled

The court said the panel will deliberate on the concerns flagged by HC during the hearings, consult petitioners and hear all stakeholders including airport operators, aviation companies and disability commission and recommend essential workable norms so that senior citizens and other wheelchair users can travel in a ‘comfortable and smooth’ manner.

The HC said that the committee will have recommendatory and not an adversarial role and it was for the DGCA to finally consider the panel’s recommendations and make an appropriate decision as per law.

A division bench of Justices Girish S Kulkarni and Advait M Sethna passed an order on two petitions, one by an over 50-year-old woman with mobility issues who raised grievances related to an ordeal she underwent while travelling from Colombo to Mumbai by Vistara in September 2023. The petitioner claimed she and her octogenarian mother were denied pre-booked wheelchairs. The other petition raised similar concerns over the non-availability of adequate wheelchairs at Mumbai International Airport.

On Monday, the bench had said the DGCA, airport operators and airline companies should take preventive measures so that “no senior citizens, specially abled and ailing persons suffer for want of wheelchairs” at airports across India.

Justice Kulkarni-led bench had suggested to DGCA that heavy penalties be imposed on stakeholders concerned to avoid agony and trauma for such travellers and all required facilities should be provided by them to ensure that India leads the world by example.

The court had also said that “highest international standards” should be implemented by aviation companies for airports across India as children, senior citizens, specially abled and ailing persons in other countries have “above basic rights” and are given “highest respect”.

It had proposed to form an expert panel to consult with all stakeholders and submit a report, after which DGCA can consider framing guidelines. On Tuesday, the HC said the aim behind forming a panel was to deal with issues of basic human rights that hamper senior citizens and people in need at various facilities at airports.

The HC in its order noted that the requirement of a wheelchair was not merely confined to senior citizens but was also relevant for ailing, disabled passengers and children among others. It said such issues “day in and day out vitally affects thousands of travellers” and an appropriate mechanism and a ‘lead model’ can be introduced to “achieve an international recognition.”

“It is, therefore, certainly one of the most fundamental human requirements that appropriate facilities of such aid and assistance, to such ‘persons in need’ are provided by the airlines/airport operators and regime in proper coordination with different stakeholders need to be established.”
The DGCA submitted that it was willing to look into all the concerned issues.

The court, therefore, emphasised on need for forming a special panel to examine inaccuracies on these issues “from every possible angle” by having deliberation with all stakeholders. The HC will hear the matter next on June 30.