Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 8: The High Court today directed the Airport Authority of India (AAI) as also Indian Air Force (IAF) to make presence of their technical persons before the Court to explain as to whether there is an additional requirement of land at Srinagar Airport for installation of Instrument Landing System (ILS).
The direction has been passed after the AAI counsel submitted before the Court that most modern ILS technology which has been installed in some airports of India is CAT III-B and counsel appearing for IAF submitted that CAT-II has been approved for the Srinagar Airport Base/Aerodrome by Ministry of Defence.
“He shall enquire as to whether CAT III-B was considered for the airport”, Division Bench of Chief Justice Badar Durrez Ahmad and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey said and sought status report in this regard from the Counsel before the next date of hearing.
“On the next date of hearing a technical person from the AAI and also a technical person from the IAF shall remain present before the Court to explain as to whether there is a requirement of additional land under CAT II ILS approach or CAT IIIB ILS approach”, DB directed.
State Counsel submitted that a joint survey has already been conducted and land identified and only intent of the AAI is required so that the State proceeds ahead with the acquisition of the additional land.
The issue involved in the instant PIL has been initiated by Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey and thereafter the then Chief Justice of the State had directed the issue involved be treated as suo-moto in view of public interest.
While taking cognizance of the issue, Justice Magrey noticed that the Airport Authority of India has, prima facie, failed to take notice of hardships and difficulties being regularly faced by the people, who travel to and fro Kashmir by air.
It has also been noticed in the suo-moto proceedings that the said authority has prima facie, failed to take appropriate remedial measures by upgrading the lighting system and installing the required gadgets at Srinagar Airport as such said authority has failed to discharge its public duty.
The Bench during proceedings observed that if CAT 3-B ILS can be installed at other airports in India, why not in the Kashmir and observed that the respondents, AAI and IAF to explain why the latest ILS technologies cannot be installed at Srinagar Airport and spell out the reasons.
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