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New Delhi, April 12
The Supreme Court said on Tuesday that it would set up an experts’ panel to revise the guidelines for issuing licenses to airlines unless the central government ensured flights on uneconomical routes such as Delhi-Shimla.
“The experts’ committee will expose the skeletons in your cupboard. Let it revise the guidelines to be followed. How can the guidelines allow airlines to avoid unprofitable routes? We will call your bluff,” a Bench headed by Chief Justice TS Thakur told Additional Solicitor General PS Patwalia.
The airlines could not be allowed to operate flights only in profitable sectors comprising metropolitan cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata, the Bench said.
The Bench made the remark as Air India and other airlines were unwilling to bring Shimla back on the country’s air services map by resuming flights to the Himachal capital and the central government was not doing much to ensure this.
Patwalia however pleaded that Air India was strictly following the guidelines and there was nothing to hide on this aspect. Nevertheless, he sought more time to make another effort to achieve a better outcome.
At this, the Bench said seeking further time was nothing but a dilly-dallying tactics. The government could not claim that the existing license guidelines were sanctimonious and as such were beyond review and revision, it said.
Patwalia persisted that the Bench grant him one last chance so that he could convey its sentiments to the authorities. He also contended that setting up an experts’ panel would only prolong resolution of the issue. The Bench posted the next hearing for April 21.
On March 15, the Supreme Court had asked the Centre to club Shimla with the Northeastern (NE) states and Jammu and Kashmir to force airlines to operate flights to the Himachal capital. The Bench made the suggestion 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 has a route share of 50 per cent, while NE states, J and K, Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands have a compulsory share of at least 10 per cent. The airlines would have to operate 40 per cent of their flights to other destinations.
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.
Air India has come to the Supreme Court challenging December 7, 2014 directive of the Himachal Pradesh High Court for starting flights from the Jubbarhatti Airport, Shimla, on a trial basis. The high court had passed the order on a PIL plea for resumption of flights to Shimla that have remained suspended since September 2012. The Supreme Court has stayed the order.
