Source: https://lawfultalks.com/drone-is-it-legal/
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 23:01:22+00:00

Document:
With the advancement in technology, new and fascinating gadgets emerge on the market. A drone, in a technological context, is an unmanned aircraft. Drones are more formally known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or unmanned aircraft systems (UASes). Essentially, a drone is a flying robot. The aircrafts may be remotely controlled or can fly autonomously through software-controlled flight plans in their embedded systems working in conjunction with onboard sensors and GPS.
UAVs were most often associated with the military. Drones are now also used in a wide range of civilian roles ranging from search and rescue, surveillance, traffic monitoring, weather monitoring and fire fighting to personal drones and business drone-based photography, as well as videography, agriculture and even delivery services.
Drone use is allowed in India, but there are several drone laws that need to be followed when flying in the country. Before flying a drone in India, there arefew poins we shold keep in mind.
More than 500 meters into the sea, from the coastline.
Though the training requirements for remote pilots are not applicable for micro category UA & recreational flying.
A permit is required for commercial drone as well as recreational use in India.
Operator shall ensure that no Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) is caused to air traffic operations and air navigation equipment.
The remote pilot must acquire the same level of training as the aircrew of a manned aircraft or a private pilot license holder. Such a requirement is unreasonable and may give rise to a situation, wherein despite legalizing civil use of drones in India we won’t find drone activities carried out due to the lack of trained remote pilots.
Company or corporation having its registered office in India and whose principal base of operation is within India.
The Central Government or the State Governments or any governmental companies can get their aircrafts registered.
Any company having its registered office outside India can get its aircraft registered if the aircraft is to be leased to any person falling in the first two categories.
Any person who is not a citizen of India but owns an aircraft or drone can get it registered to run a business in India.
Any company or corporation registered outside India but carrying business within India can also get its aircraft registered.
The use of drones was mainly for military or defense purposes. Since gradually the purpose of its use shifted and drones were used for commercial purposes, the government saw a security threat from these UAVs thereby banning their flight without approval.
Section 287 of the IPC talks of “Negligent conduct on machinery.” When anyone uses any machine in a rash or negligent manner which endangers human life, they will be held liable for, “Negligent conduct with respect to machinery.” This section will be applicable in situations where a person if flying a drone and there occurs a technical failure because of which the drone crashes, thus causing risk to others. The punishment under this section is an imprisonment for six months with a fine of INR 1000.
Section 268 pf the IPC talks of “Public Nuisance.” A person is guilty of a public nuisance who does any act or is guilty of an illegal omission which causes any common injury, danger or annoyance to the public or to the people in general who dwell or occupy property in the vicinity, or which must necessarily cause injury, obstruction, danger or annoyance to persons who may have occasion to use any public right.
Criminal Cases – most of the criminal cases tend to be prosecuted under the state law equivalent of careless and reckless endangerment or something along those lines. The other batch of prosecutions has to do with violations of exporting technology associated with military drones.
Taylor v. FAA I (Really 3 cases. Court consolidated them along.) – Adjudicated. Taylor beat the FAA. D.C. Circuit held the drone registration rules were illegally created.
EPIC v. FAA II (2016) – Currently being litigated. It has been consolidated with the fourth Taylor case.
Reichert v. FAA – Currently being litigated. Class action lawsuit against the FAA seeking to destroy the FAA registry and get the money back to all those who have registered.
Boggs v. Meredith case in the federal Western District Court of Kentucky which was dismissed. Boggs’ drone was shot down by Meredith. Boggs sued in federal court claiming the drone was in navigable airspace (which means he was not trespassing in Meredith’s airspace) and was entitled to compensation. The court dismissed the case because the court did not have the subject matter jurisdiction to decide the case and the case should be resolved in Kentucky state court.
Sives v. DJI – Class Action lawsuit against DJI regarding software update that allegedly damaged the drones.
Justice Laub v. Nicholas Horbaczewski et al – Laub alleges that Horbaczewski breached a contract. They are demanding $9,900,000 from Horbaczewski and Drone Racing League, Inc. Both Horbaczewski and Drone Racing League, Inc. have sued in New York state court asking for a declaration that Laub is not an owner of Drone Racing League.
United States v. Porrata – Defendant was sentenced to 5 years in prison and a $1.5 million fine for scamming investors with their sham drone manufacturing company.
City of San Francisco v. Lily – The district attorney for San Francisco is suing the company Lily for false advertising and unfair business practices.
City of Los Angeles v. Arvel Chapel – Not Guilty. Criminal prosecution by the city under their city ordinance. The jury held Arvel not guilty.
Joe v. McBay – Small claims case. McBay shot down Joe’s drone. The judge ordered McBay to pay for the shot-down drone.
Pituch v. Perfect Event Inc. – Pi Kappa Phi of the University of Southern California hired Perfect Event to throw a party. One of the two defendants hired the drone operator who crashed the drone into the plaintiff’s head. She is suing both defendants for negligence and premises liability.
She is from Kolkata, West Bengal. and has done schooling from Auxilium Convent School,Bandel. She has completed B.Com from Hooghly Moshin College (Burdwan University) and has cleared it with 1st division. Currently studying LL.B from Utkal University.
Michael Brown on Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Act, 2015: Why is there a need for such an amendment?

References: v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v.