Aviation watchdog DGCA to soon get powers to slap penalties

It can debar, suspend and even cancel permission to fly for carriers, cannot impose any monetary penalty

Regulator DGCA and aviation security agency BCAS are all set to get powers to impose fines on violators, with the government preparing to amend the legislation in this regard.

The move would give more teeth and leeway to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) in dealing with instances of violations amid the domestic sector witnessing over 20 per cent sustained growth in passenger traffic.

For providing penal powers to DGCA and BCAS, the government plans to amend the Aircraft Act, 1934 and it is likely to be taken up during the winter session of Parliament starting next month.

"Today, there is no provision for levying penalties. That enablement should happen," Civil Aviation Secretary R N Choubey told PTI.

Currently, there are stringent provisions in place for DGCA to deal with violations at various levels, including those related to airlines, pilots, crew members and other entities.

The watchdog can debar, suspend and even cancel the permission to fly for the carriers as well as individual pilots and engineers but cannot impose any monetary penalty.

"Today, if there is any irregularity then the licence has to be suspended of the entire airline for a certain time. That is the extreme punishment. There is no provision for anything in between.

"We are saying that unless something is very severe, there should be some provision for levying fine," Choubey said.

The powers of BCAS -- which primarily has the mandate to ensure security at airports -- would also be strengthened with new provisions.

The Civil Aviation Ministry has already floated the draft amendments to Aircraft Act.

When asked whether the ministry would be pushing the amendments in the upcoming Parliament session, Choubey replied in the affirmative.

"Yes, it will come in the next session of Parliament," he said, adding that similar provisions for penalties are there in other countries.

In the draft Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2016, the ministry has also proposed various other changes such as increasing the quantum of fine that can be imposed under this law to up to Rs 1 crore from existing level of Rs 10 lakh.

Among others, a new sub-section is proposed to be included stating that DGCA or any other officers specially empowered by the central government shall perform the safety oversight functions in respect of matters specified in the Act.