HC directs Defence Secy to file affidavit on airport issues

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 5

Taking up a petition filed in public interest on the smooth take off of the Chandigarh international airport, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today asked the Defence Secretary to file his personal affidavit on three issues.

The Bench, during the course of hearing, made it clear that the affidavit was required to be filed regarding CAT-II and CAT-III facilities at the airport and the working permission for the Southern Taxi Track.

The Bench was told that a survey report was shared by the Airport Authority of India with the Indian Air Force on the HC directions and certain operational problems surfaced in the process. A device was required to make CAT-II fully functional. It was required to be purchased by the Ministry of Defence. The Bench was also told that deliberations were on between the AAI and the IAF regarding the removal of obstructions in the functioning of the CAT-III facility.

On the issue of the Southern Taxi Track, the Bench was told that negotiations were in the final stages between the AAI and the present contractor and only working permission from the Defence Ministry was required. Taking a serious view, the Bench observed that the permission was yet to come even though directions and requests were made twice. The Bench also called for resolution of all three issues before the next date of hearing. Assistant Solicitor-General of India Chetan Mittal was present before the Bench during the hearing.

Regarding operation of to-and-fro flights to ASEAN countries, the Bench was told that 18 airports across the country were included in it and no new airport could be added to the list. The agreement between the countries was old and could not be reviewed. As such a suggestion was made to replace a not-so-busy destination with Chandigarh.

Responding to the suggestion, Punjab Advocate-General Atul Nanda submitted they would it take up at the highest level. The Bench then suggested that the states of Punjab and Haryana would take up the issue with the Union of India at the highest level. The feasibility of increasing the number of flights would also be discussed.

The amicus curiae or the friend of the court, senior advocate ML Sarin, had earlier brought to the Bench’s notice that Chandigarh was not among the Indian cities notified under India’s Open Sky Policy to enable operation of to-and-fro flights to ASEAN countries from here.

Sarin told the Bench that there was an agreement between ASEAN countries and the Government of India regarding the Open Sky Policy and 18 airports across the country were included in it. The Chandigarh international airport came up later and was not a part of it.

Open Sky Policy essentially means that no bilateral agreement is required and there are no seat restrictions. The Bench was also told that the local MP had raised the issue before the Parliament and Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh had sought Chandigarh’s inclusion among the Indian cities notified under the policy. The Bench, after hearing the submissions, sought status report on the issue.