Pilot not to be blamed, don't carry burden on yourself: SC to father of AI-171 pilot killed in crash
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New Delhi (PTI) The Supreme Court on Friday told the 91-year-old father of the pilot who died in the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad that his son is not to be blamed for the accident and he should not carry the burden on himself.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi issued notice to the Centre and the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on his plea.
"You should not carry burden on yourself. The pilot is not to be blamed for the plane crash. It was an accident. There is no insinuation against him even in the preliminary report," the bench said.
Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for the pilot's father, Pushkaraj Sabharwal, said there was a news article in US publication Wall Street Journal with regard to the pilot, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal.
"It was nasty reporting only to blame India," the bench responded.
It read out a paragraph from the preliminary report of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Board (AAIB) issued on July 12 and said nowhere it is said that the pilot is to be blamed for the accident and it only refers to the conversation between the two pilots of the plane.
"The scope of the AAIB investigation is not to blame but to suggest preventive measures to avoid future tragedies. If necessary, we will clarify that the pilot cannot be blamed," the bench said.
The court listed the matter for further hearing on November 10, along with other pending petitions on the incident.
The June 12 plane crash claimed 260 lives -- 229 passengers, 12 crew members, and 19 people on the ground.
Last month, Pushkaraj Sabharwal and the Federation of Indian Pilots moved the Supreme Court for a court-monitored inquiry headed by a former apex court judge into the plane crash.
The nonagenarian has sought a "fair, transparent and technically robust" investigation into the tragic incident.
"An incomplete and prejudiced inquiry, without identification of the exact cause of the accident, endangers the lives of future passengers and undermines aviation safety at large, causing a violation of Article 21 of the Constitution," his plea said.
The petition, filed through AP&J Chambers on October 10, made Union Ministry of Civil Aviation, DGCA and AAIB respondents.
The plea seeks directions for the constitution of an independent committee, also comprising aviation and technical experts, to probe the crash.
The ill-fated aircraft had taken off from Ahmedabad for London Gatwick but crashed within minutes, impacting the BJ Medical College hostel located less than a nautical mile from the end of the runway.
The Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) failed to activate, and both the pilot-in-command Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and co-pilot Captain Clive Kunder lost their lives in the crash, the plea said.
New Delhi, Nov 7 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Friday told the 91-year-old father of the pilot who died in the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad that his son is not to be blamed for the accident and he should not carry the burden on himself.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi issued notice to the Centre and the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on his plea.
"You should not carry burden on yourself. The pilot is not to be blamed for the plane crash. It was an accident. There is no insinuation against him even in the preliminary report," the bench said.
Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for the pilot's father, Pushkaraj Sabharwal, said there was a news article in US publication Wall Street Journal with regard to the pilot, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal.
"It was nasty reporting only to blame India," the bench responded.
It read out a paragraph from the preliminary report of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Board (AAIB) issued on July 12 and said nowhere it is said that the pilot is to be blamed for the accident and it only refers to the conversation between the two pilots of the plane.
"The scope of the AAIB investigation is not to blame but to suggest preventive measures to avoid future tragedies. If necessary, we will clarify that the pilot cannot be blamed," the bench said.
The court listed the matter for further hearing on November 10, along with other pending petitions on the incident.
The June 12 plane crash claimed 260 lives -- 229 passengers, 12 crew members, and 19 people on the ground.
Last month, Pushkaraj Sabharwal and the Federation of Indian Pilots moved the Supreme Court for a court-monitored inquiry headed by a former apex court judge into the plane crash.
The nonagenarian has sought a "fair, transparent and technically robust" investigation into the tragic incident.
"An incomplete and prejudiced inquiry, without identification of the exact cause of the accident, endangers the lives of future passengers and undermines aviation safety at large, causing a violation of Article 21 of the Constitution," his plea said.
The petition, filed through AP&J Chambers on October 10, made Union Ministry of Civil Aviation, DGCA and AAIB respondents.
The plea seeks directions for the constitution of an independent committee, also comprising aviation and technical experts, to probe the crash.
The ill-fated aircraft had taken off from Ahmedabad for London Gatwick but crashed within minutes, impacting the BJ Medical College hostel located less than a nautical mile from the end of the runway.
The Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) failed to activate, and both the pilot-in-command Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and co-pilot Captain Clive Kunder lost their lives in the crash, the plea said.
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Petrol, diesel price hike 'Modi's gift', country has come to 'tragic situation': Shivakumar
Bengaluru (PTI): Terming the petrol and diesel price hike as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "gift", Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday said the country has come to a "tragic situation."
He also criticised the PM's call for fuel saving, postponement of gold purchases, among other measures to spend wisely.
Petrol and diesel prices were hiked by Rs 3 per litre each on Friday, the first rate increase in more than four years, amid mounting losses of fuel retailers due to surging global crude prices in the wake of the West Asia conflict.
The increase comes 16 days after Assembly elections concluded in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
"Petrol and diesel price hike is Modi's gift. He has failed in international relationships. He has not maintained a good relationship with anyone in the neighbourhood. Now he is asking people of the country to limit the petrol use, not to purchase gold, minimise edible oil consumption. How can it be stopped or limited," Shivakumar asked.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "It cannot be done. The country has come to a tragic situation. We have to save and protect this country."
People earn, and lead their lives accordingly. "No one can be controlled. It should be ensured that people lead their lives smoothly with whatever they have," he further said.
Emphasising that the Centre is trying to shield people from the adverse impact of the conflict in West Asia, PM Modi on Sunday called for judicious use of fuel, postponement of gold purchases and foreign travel, among other measures, to strengthen the economy.
Alleging Modi has failed in international relationships, the Deputy CM said, "He could not manage well, he could not help. That's the reason he has made a certain appeal to people, like he did during the Covid to light the lamp, ring the bell. It is not possible. How can I stop consumption of oil in my house? How can I stop using vehicle?"
"The Prime Minister might have reduced his security to two vehicles, fine. Let others do it across the country," he said, adding, "How can you say people should not travel outside? It is their pleasure their earnings. People travel with their earnings. It is very unfortunate (to ask people not to travel outside)."
Further noting that every woman wants to have at least a gold chain for their Mangalya or Mangalsutra, Shivakumar asked how they can be stopped from buying gold for a Mangalya chain. "It is not fair."
