NIVEDITA SHARMA vs MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION

Judgment text excerpt

* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI Judgment Reserved on: 18.02.2026 % Judgment Delivered on: 23.05.2026 + LPA 76/2026, CM APPL. 11108/2026, CM APPL. 11109/2026, CM APPL. 11110/2026 & CM APPL. 11111/2026 NIVEDITA SHARMA AND ANR. .....Appellants versus MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION & ORS. .....Respondents Advocates who appeared in this case For the Appellants : Mr. Parth Kaushik, Advocate with Ms. Nivedita Sharma, Advocate / Appellant-in-person. For the Respondents : Ms. Anjana Gosain & Mr. Adhiraj Singh, Advocates for R-1&2. CORAM: HON'BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE TEJAS KARIA JUDGMENT TEJAS KARIA, J 1. The present intra court Appeal has been filed by the Appellants assailing the orders dated 08.04.2025, 08.07.2025 and 22.12.2025 (“Impugned Orders”) passed by the learned Single Judge in W.P.(C) No. 4844/2021 (“Writ Petition”). Signature Not Verified Signed By:NEELAM LPA 76/2026 Page 1 of 15 SHARMA Signing Date:23.05.2026 14:16:28 FACTUAL MATRIX 2. The Appellants travelled from New Delhi to San Francisco on 11.11.2020 on Air India Flight AI-173 in Business Class and returned on 14.01.2021 by Air India Flight AI-174. The Appellants allege that, on the outbound flight of approximately sixteen hours, Respondent No. 3, without any prior intimation, served only one hot meal and limited pre-packed snacks, notwithstanding the Appellants’ prior disclosure of diabetes and hypertension and their consequent requirement for timely meals and medication. It is further alleged that the quality and quantity of food served were grossly inadequate for a long-haul international flight, and that no advance notice of the reduced meal service was furnished to the Appellants. 3. As per the Appellants’ case, after consuming the meal served by Respondent No. 3, Appellant No. 1 suf