HC seeks status of airport transfer

Nagpur: The Nagpur bench of Bombay high court on Friday asked the Centre and state government if the airport would be transferred before February
28 after an announcement to this effect was made by Union civil aviation minister Praful Patel on Thursday.
A division bench comprising justices Dilip Sinha and Ashok Bhangale asked this question to assistant solicitor general of India SK Mishra who was appearing for the civil aviation ministry and the state government.
While referring to the news report published in TOI’s Friday edition, the bench directed advocate Mishra to seek instructions from the aviation ministry on Patel’s announcement and file an affidavit. The bench also asked the state government on the status of the joint venture company (JVC) to which the Dr Ambedkar International Airport will be transferred.
Earlier, Mishra informed the court that he had filed an affidavit based on information provided by civil aviation ministry’s under-secretary Oma Nand. The affidavit reiterated the ministry’s stand that though steps were being taken to transfer the airport and it was difficult to set a specific time-frame for it. Mishra, however, informed that he had not received any fresh instructions from the aviation ministry regarding Patel’s statement in the media.
During the last hearing on January 14, the court had asked the state chief secretary to file an affidavit on whether the JVC had been formed and if not then by what time was it was likely to be formed.
07/02/09 Times of India

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Categories: Airports Feb 2009