High Court Directed the Committee to submit its report with in one week

Vijyender Sharma

SHIMLA--------The High Court of Himachal Pradesh today directed the Committee duly constituted by the High Court  to submit its report  with in one week from today. The matter will be listed on 27^th October, 2015 for further hearing. The Court on 9^th January had constituted the   committee comprising Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation; Chairman, Airport Authority of India; Chairman-cum-Managing Director , Air India; Airport Director, Shimla Airport; Principal Secretary (Tourism) to the State of Himachal Pradesh, Deputy Commissioner, Shimla, Deputy Commissioner, Solan and Engineer-in-Chief, HPPWD, which was directed to suggest and take steps to make the Airport operational as early as possible. as per the direction of the court the meeting of committee  held on 30.09.2015 

A Division Bench comprising the Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan passed these orders on a writ petition filed by  Paras Dhaulta who has alleged in the petition that that no flights are being operating to and from Shimla Airport since September, 2012. He further alleged in the petition that Airport of Shimla become operational in early eighties. At that relevant time flights were operated from New Delhi to Shimla as well as from Shimla to Bhuntar, in District Kullu. However, since September, 2012 no flight is being operating to Shimla and the Airport is a virtual white elephant which is being maintained at the cost of public exchequer with out serving any purpose. The petitioner also pointed out that on the one hand tourism has been severally hit in absence of any air connectivity to the Hill State and on the other hand Airport Authority of Indian spends huge amount to maintain the Airport.