Middle seat PIL: HC asks Centre, DGCA on infected pax data

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Tuesday sought to know from the Union government and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation if it has any data on persons who traveled amid the COVID-19 lockdown, tested negative before the travel and then were found infected with the virus. A division bench of Justices S J Kathawalla and S P Tavade was hearing a petition filed by an Air India pilot, Deven Kanani, who claimed the airline was not keeping the middle seat vacant in flights bringing back stranded people to India.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh told the court DGCA had issued a circular on May 31 asking air carriers to try to keep the middle seat on flights vacant and provide “wraparound gowns” to passengers who are allotted such seats.