Has IndiGo Received a Tax Penalty of Rs 58.75 Crore Amid Ongoing Crisis?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- IndiGo has been penalized Rs 58.75 crore for tax issues.
- Four flight inspectors were dismissed by the DGCA for negligence.
- Hundreds of flights have been canceled, stranding thousands of passengers.
- Two oversight teams are now monitoring IndiGo's operations closely.
- The situation highlights the need for stricter adherence to safety regulations.
New Delhi, Dec 12 (NationPress) The budget airline IndiGo is facing significant government scrutiny following a series of disruptions that have impacted domestic air travel. As a result, the airline has been issued a tax penalty notice amounting to Rs 58.75 crore for the financial year 2020-21, as reported by the additional commissioner of CGST, Delhi South Commissionerate. This information was disclosed by the airline on Friday.
In a filing to the stock exchange, Interglobe Aviation Ltd, which is the parent company of IndiGo, confirmed receiving the tax penalty order on Thursday, December 11. The order includes a demand for GST alongside the penalty.
In related news, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has terminated the employment of four flight inspectors who were tasked with overseeing the safety and operational standards of IndiGo.
This action comes as the airline grapples with escalating issues, leading to hundreds of flight cancellations this month due to poor planning and a lack of adherence to stricter safety regulations.
As a consequence, tens of thousands of passengers across the country are currently stranded due to these cancellations.
Sources indicate that the DGCA's decision to dismiss the inspectors was prompted by findings of negligence in their monitoring and inspection duties.
To ensure strict oversight of the airline’s operations, the regulator has positioned two special teams at IndiGo's office in Gurugram.
These teams will submit a daily report to the DGCA by 6 p.m. One team is focused on monitoring IndiGo's fleet size, availability of pilots, crew utilization hours, training schedules, split-duty patterns, unscheduled absences, standby personnel, and the number of flights affected by crew shortages.
To accurately gauge the operational disturbance, the team is also analyzing the airline's average stage length and network.
The second team is dedicated to assessing the impact of the crisis on passengers. This includes checking the status of refunds from the airline and travel agencies, reimbursements as per Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR), punctuality, luggage return, and the overall cancellation status.