Govt issues rules for no-fly list

News Network

September 8, 2017

New Delhi, Sep 8: Unruly fliers will land in a national no-fly list from now on that can extend upto life time for offences ranging from verbal abuse to life threatening behaviour.

The government on Friday unveiled the changes made to Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) to enable the country to promulgate the national no-fly list, which it said is "unique and first of its kind in the world".

The new rules provide graded punishment for offences which are categorised into three levels. One will end up in the no-fly list for upto three months if the passenger is found of violating Level 1 (unruly behaviour - verbal) offences like disruptive behaviour, physical gesture and verbal abuse.

A flier who commits a Level 2 offence (physical behaviour) will be banned for up to six months. The offender will end up in the list for "two or more years without limit" if he commits a Level 3 offence which is categorised as life-threatening behaviour like murderous assault, choking and damaging aircraft operating system among others.

For repeat offenders, the person will be banned for twice the period of previous ban. These provisions are airline specific. An airline can ban a passenger but others can continue to fly the passenger if they desire so

The amendments to the existing CAR on 'Handling Unruly/Disruptive Passengers' came following the incident involving Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad who repeatedly slapped an Air India manager in April.

"The no-fly list provisions are applicable to every passenger. There are no exemptions," Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju told reporters. The provisions of the CAR came into existence on Friday itself, which also said, "sale of tickets inadvertently to such person(s) shall not confer a right upon them to fly."

The complaint of unruly behaviour should be referred to an internal committee set up by the airline have headed by a retired district and sessions judge with a representative each of another airline and passenger association. This panel should decide the matter in 30 days and till such time, airline can impose ban on passenger from flying for 30 days. In case the committee fails to take a decision in 30 days, passenger will be free to fly.

If any party is aggrieved with the decision, they can approach a government-appointed panel headed by a retired High Court judge, representative of airline who is not below the rank of Vice President and representative of passenger association or consumer forum. (ENDS)

Unruly behaviour

Level 1: Unruly behaviour (verbal)
Level 2: Physically behaviour
Level 3: Life-threatening behaviour

Flying ban

Level 1 offences: upto 3 months
Level 2 offences: upto six months
Level 3 offences: minimum 2 years or more without limit
** Persons barred by MHA: such time that the person is perceived to be national security risk

** Sale of ticket by mistake to such a person shall not confer a right upon him to fly.

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From Representation to Rivalry: The Sorry State of Muslim Leadership in Karnataka Congress

coastaldigest.com news network

January 19,2026

Bengaluru: As the dust settles on the recent legislative session, the corridors of Vidhana Soudha are buzzing with more than just policy talk. A high-stakes game of political musical chairs has begun, exposing a deepening rift within the Congress party’s Muslim leadership as a major Cabinet reshuffle looms.

With the party hierarchy signaling a "50% refresh" to gear up for the 2028 Assembly elections, the race to fill three projected Muslim ministerial berths has transformed from a strategic discussion into an all-out turf war.

The "Star Son" Spark

The internal friction turned public this week following provocative remarks by Zaid Khan, actor and son of Wakf Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan. Zaid’s claim—that his father "helped" secure a ticket for Shivajinagar MLA Rizwan Arshad in 2023—has acted as a lightning rod for resentment.

Rizwan’s camp was quick to fire back, dismissing the comment as a desperate attempt by Zameer to manufacture seniority. "Rizwan’s political pedigree was forged in the NSUI and Youth Congress long before Zameer even stepped into the party," a supporter noted, highlighting Rizwan’s tenure as an AICC secretary and his two-term presidency of the State Youth Congress.

A Tale of Two Loyalists

While both Zameer Ahmed Khan and Rizwan Arshad are staunch allies of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and represent Bengaluru strongholds, their political DNA could not be more different:

• Zameer Ahmed Khan: A four-time MLA who crossed over from JD(S) in 2018. Known for his "overzealous" and often polarizing outreach during communal flashpoints—from the DJ Halli riots to the recent Wakf land notice controversy—his style has frequently left the Congress high command in a state of "discomfort."

• Rizwan Arshad: A homegrown organizational man. Seen as a "quiet performer," Arshad represents the sophisticated, moderate face of the party, preferred by those who find Zameer’s brand of politics too volatile.

The Outsiders Looking In

The bickering isn't limited to a duo. The "Beary" community, represented by leaders like N A Haris and Saleem Ahmed, is demanding its pound of flesh. Saleem Ahmed, the Chief Whip in the Legislative Council, has dropped the veil of diplomacy, openly declaring his ministerial aspirations.

"I was the only working president not included in the Cabinet last time," Saleem noted pointedly, signaling that the "loyalty quota" is no longer enough to keep the peace.

As Chief Minister Siddaramaiah prepares to finalize the list, he faces a delicate balancing act: rewarding the aggressive grassroots mobilization of Zameer’s camp without alienating the organizational stalwarts and minority sub-sects who feel increasingly sidelined by the "Chamarajpet-Shivajinagar" binary.

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