India, Nov. 2 -- The Supreme Court on Monday declined an urgent hearing to a plea seeking a cap on sharply increased domestic airfares ahead of the festive season, with Justice Vikram Nath telling the applicant's counsel to "don't travel by air".

The application, filed in a pending public interest litigation (PIL), sought early intervention against what it described as inflated airline fares. It pointed out that the matter was listed for hearing on November 16, by which time travel for Diwali, Bhai Dooj and Chhath Puja would have concluded.

Justice Nath, heading a three-judge bench, declined the request and proceeded to the next matter.

Social activist S Laxminarayanan had filed the PIL last year, alleging arbitrary and opaque pricing ...