By Aarit Gupta
The Supreme Court has sharply criticised the Centre and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for releasing only “bits and pieces” of information about the Air India crash that took place on June 12. The court declared that such leaks could put people in a dilemma and negatively impact families and relatives of the victims.
The crash which took the life of over 130 people is considered to be one of the worst air disasters in recent years. Families of victims are still grieving and demanding clear information. Three months later, there is still no complete report on what caused the tragedy.
Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, leading the bench, said, “The families of those who died deserve answers, not fragments of speculation.” The Court also raised doubts over the DGCA’s role. The Judges also doubted if DGCA can be trusted to carry out a fair investigation into the crash, since it is the regulator responsible for safety
These issues have been raised by aviation experts for years. Capt. Rajesh Sharma, a retired pilot, explained, “Flights in India have increased very fast, but safety checks have not. Unless probes are fully independent, mistakes will continue.” His words mirror the major concerns related to the industry, which feels the safety measures have not kept up with the rapid growth of air travel in India.
Families of the victims welcomed the court’s remarks. For them, the wait has been painful. “This is not only about one crash. It is about whether people can feel safe flying tomorrow,” said Priya Menon, a spokesperson for a passengers’ rights group.
The government has argued that the ongoing inquiry is following international rules. But even officials admit that controlling the flow of information has been a challenge. The Supreme Court is now considering whether to order an independent, time-bound investigation.
If such a probe is launched, it could set an important precedent for aviation safety in India. More than finding out what went wrong on June 12, the case has raised bigger questions. Can India’s aviation system keep passengers safe as the skies get busier every year? Millions of travellers will be waiting for that answer.