The Supreme Court on August 14, 2025, issued notice on a plea that sought comprehensive safety measures for helicopter services operating in high-altitude and mountainous regions. The bench, comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta, directed that the matter be returnable within four weeks.
The petition, filed by Shubham Awasthi and others, raises concerns over repeated helicopter crashes in pilgrimage zones of Uttarakhand, especially in and around Kedarnath valley. It highlights that operators have shown a “consistent pattern of operational negligence, regulatory non-compliance, and procedural lapses” despite the dangerous terrain and limited emergency infrastructure.
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The plea points out that in June 2025 alone, three fatal crashes occurred—on June 1 near Linchauli, on June 8 in the Guptkashi corridor, and on June 15 in Kedarnath valley—resulting in 11 deaths and over 20 injuries. Similar accidents in earlier years also revealed serious deficiencies in weather monitoring, airworthiness certification, pilot training, and evacuation systems.
According to the petitioners, “the lack of safety audits, the non-availability of mountain-specific flight protocols, and the absence of an accountable response mechanism all combine to make the current regulatory regime dangerously inadequate.” The plea further stresses that the right to life under Article 21 includes the right to safe travel, and the State has a duty to act as a regulator.
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The petition also draws attention to poor helipad infrastructure, noting that the Kedarnath helipad, one of the busiest in India, lacks even basic crash fire rescue services. It seeks court directions for the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to frame and enforce binding Standard Operating Procedures, suspend or revoke licenses of defaulting operators, and make safety compliance data public.
Additionally, the plea calls for establishing a centralized monitoring system, suspending single-engine helicopter operations until safeguards are in place, and requiring states to file regular compliance reports before the Court.
Case Title: Shubham Awasthi v. Union of India
Case No.: W.P.(C) No. 688/2025