DGCA should not have certified action of other airlines: HC on Kamra flying ban

Taking standup comedian Kunal Kamra’s petition against a flying ban on him by several airlines into consideration, the Delhi High Court on Tuesday (February 25) said aviation regulator DGCA ought not to have certified action of airlines other than IndiGo.

The largest low-cost airline in India had on January 28 imposed an indefinite flying ban without an inquiry on the comedian for allegedly heckling journalist Arnab Goswami on a flight.

@MoCA_GoI @HardeepSPuri In light of the recent incident on board 6E 5317 from Mumbai to Lucknow, we wish to inform that we are suspending Mr. Kunal Kamra from flying with IndiGo for a period of six months, as his conduct onboard was unacceptable behaviour. 1/2

— IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) January 28, 2020

In his petition, Kamra said he was banned by IndiGo for a six-month period before its internal committee even arrived at a decision while other airlines — Air India, Spicejet, and GoAir — imposed an indefinite ban on him.

The comedian, represented by senior advocates Vivek Tankha, Gopal Sankaranarayanan and Mohit Mathur, has moved the high court seeking directions to DGCA to direct the airlines to revoke the ban.

Related news: Arnab heckling incident: After IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet suspends Kunal

He has also sought action against the airlines for taking the action in alleged violation of Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR).

Justice Navin Chawla asked the DGCA to take instructions on what steps it intends to take regarding the action by the other airlines and listed the matter for hearing on February 27.

Kamra has also sought directions to the DGCA to expeditiously decide his representation to take action against the airlines.

Earlier, in a video clip posted by Kamra on his Twitter handle, he is seen asking Goswami if he is a “coward or a journalist”.

I did this for my hero…
I did it for Rohit pic.twitter.com/aMSdiTanHo

— Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) January 28, 2020

While Goswami can be seen sitting in the plane and watching something on his laptop with his earphones plugged in, Kamra is heard as telling him, “Viewers want to know if Arnab today is a coward or a nationalist. Arnab, this is for national interest. I am part of the tukde-tukde narrative. You should deflate me. You should take the enemy of the states down. You should make sure that the country is in safe hands of Narendra Modi.”

“You should fight against dynasts like Rahul Gandhi, who I support, on 10 Tughlaq Lane. Arnab, you should have a reply, Arnab. Arnab, are you a coward or are you a journalist? Are you a coward or are you a journalist or a nationalist? Who are you, Arnab? Who are you?” Kamra can be heard as saying in the video clip.

Related news: Amid ban by four airlines, Kunal Kamra flies again, thanks Vistara

“You know, you do not deserve my politeness. This is not for you. This is for Rohith Vemula’s mother whose caste you were discussing on your show. I know this is not allowed. This is fine. It’s fine if it is not allowed. I’d go to jail for this,” he said.

“But this is for Rohith’s mother. And go find time and read that 10-page suicide letter that Rohith wrote so that you have some emotion or some heart or you just become human. Do that. Do you in your free time. You nationalist.” Kamra can be heard as saying.

After IndiGo announced its decision to ban Kamra, the Aviation minister said on Twitter, “We are left with no option but to advise other airlines to impose similar restrictions on the person concerned”.

Offensive behaviour designed to provoke & create disturbance inside an aircraft is absolutely unacceptable & endangers safety of air travellers.

We are left with no option but to advise other airlines to impose similar restrictions on the person concerned. https://t.co/UHKKZfdTVS

— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) January 28, 2020

Related news: Kamra sends legal notice to IndiGo demanding apology, revocation of 6 month ban

(With inputs from agencies)