 bill no 66 of  2017 the airlines regulatory authority bill, 2017 by shri mk raghavan, mp a billto provide for setting up of an airlines regulatory authority to regulate the operation of airline companies and for matters connected therewithbe it enacted by parliament in the sixty-eighth year of the republic of  india as follows:—1  (1) this act may be called the airlines regulatory authority  act, 2017(2) it extends to the whole of india5(3) it shall come into force at onceshort title, extent, commencement and application(4) it shall apply to all airline companies, including private and foreign airline companies operating to and from india and providing commercial helicopter/aircraft services on  payment basisdefinitions2 in this act, unless the context otherwise requires,—(a) "authority" means the airlines regulatory authority constituted under section 3; and(b) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this act53 (1) the central government shall, by notification in the official gazette, constitute an authority to be known as the airlines regulatory authority to regulate the operation of airline companies in the countryestablishment of airlines regulatory authority(2) the authority shall consist of—10(i) a chairperson, who shall be an expert in the discipline of aviation, to be appointed by the central government; and(ii) three members, each representing airline companies, the department of commerce and the department of industry of the union government, to be nominated by the central government15(3) the secretary of the union ministry of civil aviation shall be the ex-officio secretary of the authority(4) the central government shall provide such number of officers and staff to the authority as may be required for its efficient functioning(5) the salary and allowances payable to, and other terms and conditions of the chairperson, members and officers and staff of the authority shall be such as may be prescribed204 the authority shall:—functions of the authority(i) prescribed guidelines regarding functioning of all airline companies operatingin the country;25(ii) formulate guidelines regarding services provided by various airline companiesin the country;(iii) fix fares for various domestic flights without putting any restrictions on thepower of the airline companies to fix fares lower than that fixed by the authority;30(iv) prescribe guidelines regarding minimum facilities to be provided to passengerswithout restricting the power of the airline companies to provide more facilities than prescribed  by the authority;(v) issue guidelines regarding payment of compensation to passengers in caseof delay in the scheduled flights;35(vi) prescribe facilities to be provided to passengers by airline companies incase of delay or cancellation of flights due to reasons beyond the control of airlines companies;(vii) prescribe norms regarding fee including license fee for the usage of theairport;(viii) prescribe compensation for loss of luggage, baggage or delay in transit ofluggage or baggage;(ix) issue guidelines regarding insurance cover for passengers;40(x) issue guidelines regarding prior information to passengers in case of delay orcancellation or rescheduling of flights;(xi) frame guidelines for  regulation of advertisement issued by airlines;45(xii) establish redressal mechanism to deal with complaints of and against airlines;and(xiii) undertake any other function that may be entrusted to it by the central government, from time to time, for carrying out the purposes of this actpunishment55 if any airline company violates any of the guidelines framed or issued by the authority,the registration or licence of such company shall automatically stand suspended for a period of six months6 the central government shall, after due appropriation made by parliament by law in this behalf, provide adequate funds for the implementation of the provisions of this actcentral government to provide adequate funds7 the provisions of this act shall be in addition to and not in derogation of any otherlaw, for the time being in force, regulating any of the matters dealt with in this actact not to be in derogation of otherlaws10power to make rules8 (1) the central government may, by notification in the official gazette, make rules forcarrying out the provisions of this act15(2) every rule made under this act shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made,before each house of parliament, while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both houses agree in making any modification in the rule or both the houses agree that the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule statement of objects and reasonsthere has been a mushrooming growth of private airlines in the country as a result of economic liberalization since there is no mechanism to regulate the functioning of airlines, they are not functioning properly and are harassing the passengers by undue delay or cancellation of scheduled flights the constitution of a regulatory body in aviation sector is required to mitigate the problems being faced by the airlines passengershence this billnew delhi;mk raghavanmarch 7, 2017 financial memorandumclause 3 of the bill provides for the constitution of an airlines regulatory authorityclause 6 provides that central government shall release funds to central authority after due appropriation the bill, therefore, if enacted, would involve expenditure from the consolidated fund of india it is estimated that an annual recurring expenditure of rupees ten crore would be involved from the consolidated fund of indiaa non-recurring expenditure of rupees one crore is also likely to be involved memorandum  regarding  delegated  legislationclause 8 of the bill empowers the central government to make rules for carrying out the provisions of the bill as the rules will relate to matters of detail only, the delegation of legislative power is of a normal character lok  sabha———— a billto provide for setting up of an airlines regulatory authority to regulate the operation of airline companies and for matters connected therewith————(shri mk raghavan, mp)gmgipmrnd—5337ls(s3)—27-03-2017