No stay on operations at HAL, Bajpe airport

The Karnataka high court on Tuesday refused to pass an interim order restraining flight operations from HAL airport in Bangalore and Bajpe International Airport in Mangalore, whose licenses, according to a petitioner had expired in March 2006 and June 2010, respectively.

A division bench comprising justices VG Sabhahit and AS Bopanna heard the PIL filed by city-based advocate GR Mohan, who alleged that despite expiry of licenses, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) was operating regular flights.

The petitioner had also sought directions for the implementation of aircraft rules for passengers’ safety and formulation of proper guidelines regarding compensation to those affected by air crashes.

The petitioner contended that as per aircraft rules, an aerodrome should have a valid license for flight operations. However, some of the airports had not renewed their licenses and the DGCA was still permitting them to operate the airports.

The bench, however, issued notices to the civil aviation secretary, director general of civil aviation, and the AAI chairman on the petition.