Delhi HC asks DGCA to reply on pilots' plea against fatigue rules

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.

- NITIN KUMAR

A bench led by Justice Amit Sharma issued notice to the DGCA and directed its senior officials to file their responses in the matter. The court has listed the case for further hearing on April 17, 2026.

The issue stems from the DGCA granting IndiGo a temporary, onetime exemption from night operations-related changes under the new Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms for its Airbus A320 pilots. Pilot bodies have cited this exemption as an instance of dilution of the revised fatigue management rules.