The Himachal Pradesh High Court has expressed serious concern over the lack of regular flight services from the state’s three airports, Shimla, Kullu, and Kangra, and has asked both the Central and state governments to respond.
A Division Bench of Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Jiya Lal Bhardwaj issued these directions while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that was originally filed about the problem of bird menace at the Kangra (Gaggal) airport.
While hearing the PIL, the court widened the scope of the PIL to include the issue of irregular flight operations at all airports in Himachal Pradesh.
The court was told that even though the state has three airports, the Union government has not ensured enough flight operations, causing major inconvenience to residents and tourists.
The Bench noted that air connectivity is essential in a hilly state where road travel is difficult, especially because tourism is a key source of revenue for Himachal Pradesh.
It was also brought to the court’s notice that at the Shimla and Kullu airports, usually only one flight operates, and even that service is not regular.
The High Court has ordered that the Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation be added as a respondent and has sent a notice to the Central Government through the Ministry. The state government has also been asked to file a status report on what steps or requests it has made to ensure regular flight operations from the airports concerned.
The matter will now be heard again on December 16.
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