Bill to enhance DGCA powers introduced
The government today introduced a Bill to enhance powers of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for performing oversight functions and imposing penalties for violation of aviation rules.
Introducing the Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2006 in the Lok Sabha, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said the legislation was intended to lay down appropriate safeguards to ensure protection of civil aviation in the country against acts of unlawful interference.
The Bill proposes to amend the law to enhance the quantum of existing penalties for violating rules relating to carriage in aircraft of arms or explosives or providing false information or abetment of offences or non-compliance of directions with a view to achieving desired deterrent effect to raise the compliance level, according to its statement of objects and reasons.
The Bill seeks to enlarge the scope of powers of the DGCA to make it a regulatory body.
It would empower the Centre to grant license to personnel engaged in air traffic control, certify, inspect and regulate the communication, navigation and surveillance as well as air traffic management, besides ensuring security and safeguarding the aviation sector against acts of unlawful interference.
The DGCA would get powers to regulate foreign registered aircraft operating in India, it said.
The Bill, brought in the backdrop of privatisation and vast developments in technology as well as India switching over from ground-based to satellite based technology, also seeks to give effect to the provisions of the Convention on International Civil Aviation, popularly known as the Chicago Convention.