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Civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu is expected to face several questions, particularly in the Rajya Sabha, where the ministry is featured in the question hour on Day 1
With both starred and unstarred questions lined up, civil aviation will dominate the Rajya Sabha proceedings from the beginning of the monsoon session. (Image: PTI/File)
The monsoon session of Parliament — July 21 to August 21 — is poised to begin on a stormy note with all eyes trained on the civil aviation ministry. Day 1 will likely focus on the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, which claimed 260 lives.
Civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu is expected to face several challenging questions, particularly in the Rajya Sabha, where the ministry is featured in the question hour on the opening day.
Lawmakers from both the ruling NDA and the opposition have prepared tough inquiries concerning safety regulations, oversight mechanisms, staffing issues, and accountability.
RJD MP Manoj Jha has requested data on the number of safety and maintenance inspections conducted by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) over the past three years, including whether any airline was penalised for lapses.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi has expressed concerns about understaffing within DGCA, asking for the number of sanctioned posts and plans to bolster manpower in line with the expanding aviation sector. She is also seeking information on steps taken to fill crucial vacancies, especially in safety and audit roles.
Congress leader Pramod Tiwari has questioned whether DGCA has ordered extended surveillance of Boeing 787 aircraft currently operating in India, while AAP’s Sandeep Pathak has inquired about the number of cases registered against airline services for passenger safety violations in the last three years and the status of these investigations.
Congress MP GC Chandrashekhar has sought clarification on reports that some airlines are flouting safety regulations, including details on any emergency landings that have occurred due to such violations.
The CPI(M)’s John Brittas has demanded information on the preliminary findings of the June Ahmedabad plane crash probe and if any notices had been served to Air India by DGCA or other authorities over maintenance, operations, or crew-related lapses before the incident.
Congress MP Anil Kumar Yadav Mandadi has asked for an update on the crash probe, particularly the status of data retrieved from the black boxes and its analysis.
Within the BJP, Rajya Sabha MP and former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan has inquired if inspections have been conducted on all Boeing 787 Dreamliners in the Indian fleet since the crash.
Shiv Sena’s Milind Deora has raised concerns about poor working conditions for aircraft technicians and engineers, questioning if the government has studied the high attrition rates in the aviation maintenance workforce, many of whom are reportedly migrating overseas for better opportunities.
A BJP MP from Bihar, Shambhu Sharan Singh has requested details of government expenditure on passenger convenience and safety from 2019 to 2024.
Former Union minister and BJP ally from Bihar, Upendra Kushwaha has asked if DGCA has prescribed uniform security standards for Indian airports and if airports, including Patna, are failing to meet those standards, along with corrective measures being implemented to ensure passenger safety.
Several MPs have also urged the government to disclose compensation measures for the families of the crash victims. With both starred and unstarred questions lined up, civil aviation will dominate the Upper House proceedings from the beginning of the session.
The tragic crash has unified lawmakers across party lines to demand greater accountability, transparency, and safety reforms in the aviation sector, setting the stage for a heated debate in Parliament.
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