Bombay High Court

Delhi High Court: Akasa Air Pilot's Plea Against ICC Findings Rejected

Updated
Nov 10, 2025 2:42 PM
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Here's a simple breakdown of a recent court case involving Akasa Air and a complaint about workplace behavior. The court decided not to consider a request against the Internal Complaints Committee's (ICC) findings because there are other official ways to address the issue. Let's dive into the details.

What Happened?

A pilot at Akasa Air, referred to as Arjun Bhardwaj, was accused by a trainee captain, Priya Sharma, of inappropriate behavior. The Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) at Akasa Air looked into the complaint.

ICC's Findings

  • Final Report: On February 12, 2025, the ICC finished its investigation.
  • Recommendations:
  • Arjun Bhardwaj should get a final warning to act professionally.
  • Arjun Bhardwaj must take a refresher course on the workplace behavior rules.
  • Arjun Bhardwaj cannot get promotions for six months.
  • Leisure travel perks for Arjun Bhardwaj are taken away for 45 days.

Arjun Bhardwaj's Response

Arjun Bhardwaj was unhappy with how the ICC handled the situation, claiming: - He wasn't allowed to question witnesses. - He didn't get a chance to speak in his defense. - The investigation wasn't fair and unbiased. - There were leaks of confidential information.

Legal Arguments

  • Arjun Bhardwaj's Stand: His lawyer argued that the ICC didn't follow fair procedures by not allowing questioning of witnesses and not giving him a chance to speak.
  • Akasa Air's Stand: The airline's lawyer argued that the request isn't valid because there's an appeal process under the workplace rules.

Court's Decision

Judge N. J. Jamadar rejected the request, stating: - The ICC's actions didn't need the court's involvement since there are official ways to appeal. - The court emphasized that the ICC's investigation is about finding facts and doesn't have to follow strict legal rules.

Key Takeaways

  • Validity: The court stressed that requests like this are usually not considered when there are official ways to handle the situation.
  • Fairness: The court found no major issues with fairness that would justify skipping the appeal process.

Next Steps

The court allowed Arjun Bhardwaj to challenge the ICC's decision within four weeks, making sure that the time spent on this request wouldn't affect the timeline for the appeal.

This case highlights the importance of following official procedures and the court's reluctance to get involved when there are existing ways to resolve the issue.

"Disclaimer: The names used in this report are fictitious and have been added for privacy reasons."