Guwahati: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued new instructions for air passengers on Wednesday, making face masks required at all airports and on-board aircraft in response to the escalating cases of COVID-19.
The new guidelines said that passengers who do not wear masks on the aircraft may be considered rowdy.
The civil aviation regulator has warned that they would be removed from the plane before departure if passengers are detected without a face mask or acting in a COVID-inappropriate manner.
Giving details, the civil aviation regulator DGCA said that CISF troops will be responsible for implementing mask requirements at airports.
The new DGCA instructions were issued just days after the Delhi High Court directed it to take strict action against passengers who refuse to follow Covid safety guidelines.
The high court in its order on June 3 called for strict action, observing that the pandemic is not over yet. “If the passenger refuses to follow protocol despite reminders, action should be taken under health ministry or DGCA guidelines,” it said.
The court stated that they can be forcibly removed, placed on a “no-fly” list, or turned over to security services for further action. “The issue of said injunction, in our opinion, is the proper course of action given that the epidemic has not abated and continues to rear its ugly head,” the court stated.