Hold meeting on installing CAT-III at Chandigarh int’l airport: High Court

Tribune News Service

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Chandigarh, March 3

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed the Chief of Defence Staff, Airport Authority and other stakeholders to put heads together for resolving the issues around installation of CAT-III instrument landing system at the Chandigarh International Airport.

The Bench of Chief Justice Ravi Shanker Jha and Justice Arun Palli observed even though the need for installing CAT-III was not being felt with full force today, its requirement would be felt later. As such, it was necessary to resolve the issues surrounding its installation.

Appearing before the Bench, Assistant Solicitor-General of India Chetan Mittal earlier underscored the difficulties in installing the facility at the airport. More than a few defence structures would have to be demolished for the purpose.

The Bench during the hearing made it clear that security could not be compromise with. But if some buildings could be brought down, the authorities should go ahead with it. Amicus curiae or the friend of the court, ML Sarin, also told the Bench during the hearing that Air Chief Marshal in reference to the Chandigarh International Airport said there was no difficulty in installing CAT-III.

More than six months after the High Court ordered the demolition of 98 structures in Pabhat village in the airport’s vicinity, the owners, meanwhile, did not get any relief.

The Bench observed the High Court had ordered on August 22, 2019, that the procedure for demolition may be carried out within four month. An appeal against the order was filed before the Supreme Court, but the orders were still in force in the absence of stay. Yet, the structures had not been razed.

The Bench added it was not possible for it to relook at its own order on demolition. As such, the appellants may present their case before the Supreme Court during the March 6 hearing.

The High Court observed that the matter concerning the smooth takeoff of the airport was related to national security. Yet personal interest was coming in way of national interest as the thoughts were limited to individuals. Everyone wanted relief, but no one was willing to sacrifice.