SC declines to examine PIL seeking curbs on construction near airports, grants liberty to approach authorities

New Delhi, June 16 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to entertain a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking directions to the Centre to frame a policy regulating construction and development around airports to enhance public safety in the wake of the Ahmedabad Air India plane crash.

A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice V. Mohana allowed the petitioner to withdraw the matter with liberty to approach the competent authorities.

“Learned counsel for the petitioner seeks and is permitted to withdraw this petition with liberty to approach the authorities concerned,” the apex court said in its order.

Disposing of the matter, the CJI-headed bench added: “The Writ Petition is, accordingly, dismissed as withdrawn with liberty as aforesaid.”

The plea, filed through advocate Laxmikant Matadan Shukla, had sought judicial directions to the Union government to formulate a comprehensive public policy aimed at preventing the construction of residential buildings, hospitals, educational institutions and other vulnerable establishments in proximity to airport runways.

The PIL was filed against the backdrop of the Air India Flight AI171 crash near Ahmedabad airport. Referring to the incident, the petitioner contended that the aircraft crashed shortly after take-off and struck the premises of B.J. Medical College, resulting in the deaths of passengers, crew members, resident doctors, and medical students.

The petition maintained that the Ahmedabad tragedy had brought into focus the larger issue of unregulated urban growth around airport peripheries and the need for a nationwide framework balancing development with aviation safety.

The plea also cited examples of dense residential settlements around several airports, including Mumbai, and sought the creation of uniform national guidelines governing construction activity in airport safety zones. However, without expressing any opinion on the merits, the Supreme Court allowed the petitioner to withdraw the matter and granted liberty to approach the authorities concerned for appropriate relief.

–IANS

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