The Supeme Court today asked the Centre to club Shimla with the Northeastern (NE) states and Jammu and Kashmir to force airlines to operate flights to the Himachal Pradesh capital.
A Bench comprising Chief Justice TS Thakur and Justice UU Lalit made the remark after being informed that the civil aviation guidelines for disbursal of routes to airlines had three categories.
Metros like Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai figured in category one which had a route share of 50 per cent, while NE states, J and K, Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands had a compulsory share of at least 10 per cent. The airlines would have to operate 40 per cent of their flights to other destinations.
Additional Solicitor General PS Patwalia said airlines preferred cities other than Shimla under the third category due to various reasons. At this, the Bench said placing Shimla under the second category would ensure air connectivity to the city.
Patwalia said one of the reasons for airlines’ reluctance to go to Shimla was the shorter runway on which take-off was possible only if the flight had passengers not exceeding 60 per cent of its capacity.
The Bench refused to buy this argument, calling it a bluff that could be exposed by asking an expert panel to have it verified. It was rather economic reasons that kept them away from Shimla, it said.
The Bench asked the government to come back to the court if the airlines failed to fly to Shimla even after the city was placed in the second category. “You tell us, we will deal with them,” it said.
The apex court granted three weeks time for the purpose and posted the next hearing for April 12. The Bench refused to give a longer time in view of the ongoing tourist season.
To Read the News in Full 15/03/16 R Sedhuraman/The Tribune
A Bench comprising Chief Justice TS Thakur and Justice UU Lalit made the remark after being informed that the civil aviation guidelines for disbursal of routes to airlines had three categories.
Metros like Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai figured in category one which had a route share of 50 per cent, while NE states, J and K, Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands had a compulsory share of at least 10 per cent. The airlines would have to operate 40 per cent of their flights to other destinations.
Additional Solicitor General PS Patwalia said airlines preferred cities other than Shimla under the third category due to various reasons. At this, the Bench said placing Shimla under the second category would ensure air connectivity to the city.
Patwalia said one of the reasons for airlines’ reluctance to go to Shimla was the shorter runway on which take-off was possible only if the flight had passengers not exceeding 60 per cent of its capacity.
The Bench refused to buy this argument, calling it a bluff that could be exposed by asking an expert panel to have it verified. It was rather economic reasons that kept them away from Shimla, it said.
The Bench asked the government to come back to the court if the airlines failed to fly to Shimla even after the city was placed in the second category. “You tell us, we will deal with them,” it said.
The apex court granted three weeks time for the purpose and posted the next hearing for April 12. The Bench refused to give a longer time in view of the ongoing tourist season.
To Read the News in Full 15/03/16 R Sedhuraman/The Tribune
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