Expert Committee of Civil Aviation submits report; Bombay HC allows middle seat occupancy in flights subject to conditions

The Bombay High Court had asked the Expert Committee of the Ministry of Civil Aviation to present a report as to whether the COVID-19 could be transmitted by mere touch. The Expert Committee came up with a clarification that COVID-19 could be transmitted by inadvertent touch only under circumstances where the inflicted person’s clothes or body are infected with COVID-19 (in circumstances where droplets from the mouth or nose after sneezing or coughing stay on the cloth surface) and that surface is touched by a non infected person.

After seeking this clarification, the Bombay High Court on June 5 passed an interim order directing airlines to follow the May 31 circular of the Civil Aviation ministry that had allowed middle-seats in flights to be occupied. The Court directed that the Airlines have to provide ‘wrap-around’ gowns to persons occupying such middle seats. The Court also directed that the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) issued by the DGCA to guard against COVID-19 spread have to be strictly followed.

The Expert Committee has also asserted that the risk of COVID-19 transmission would be curbed even further if all passengers wear protective gowns and masks to prevent it from spreading. It further stated that the gown would provide a necessary shield in case of an inadvertent touch between an infected and a non-infected person. The Bench of Justices SJ Kathawalla and SP Tavade allowed the Airlines to allot the middle seats to passengers in strict compliance with the Circular dated 31st May, 2020 and the applicable SOPs and circulars/guidelines issued from time to time by the concerned authorities.