The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Centre to place its finalised rules for regulating airfares before it by November 16, after the government informed the court that the proposed framework had received administrative approval and would be published within two weeks.

"The rules have been finalised and the administrative approval to the rules has been granted. And the same would be published within two weeks," Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told a Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, R Mahadevan and Aparesh Singh.

The top court directed the government to place the published rules before it by November 16, when the matter will be taken up next.

The court is hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) concerning arbitrary and exorbitant airfares charged by private airlines.

During an August hearing, the Supreme Court had asked the Centre to ground airlines that failed to follow the rules, after the government said it was issuing office memorandums to airlines on airfare pricing until the final rules were ready. The Civil Aviation Ministry had told the court that airlines were not complying with these directives.

The top court had also examined the draft rules to regulate airfares submitted by the government in a sealed cover.

The proceedings come amid concerns over steep airfare increases during periods of high demand, including the festive travel season. Airlines have also revised fuel surcharges in recent weeks, citing elevated aviation turbine fuel (ATF) costs.

IndiGo announced revised fuel charges effective October 6, with domestic surcharges ranging from Rs 375 to Rs 1,300 depending on the distance travelled. Air India, Air India Express and Akasa Air subsequently announced increases or introduced fuel surcharges from October 9.

Shares of InterGlobe Aviation, the operator of IndiGo, closed 1.91% lower at Rs 4,686.90 on the NSE on Friday.

The final rules are expected to provide a formal framework for airfare regulation. Their specific provisions will become clear once the government publishes them.