Meghalaya High Court wants direct Shillong-Bhopal flights since judges have to visit National Judicial Academy

The Meghalaya High Court recently urged the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to consider having a direct flight in future between Shillong and Bhopal on Fridays and Sundays [Registrar General, vs State Of Meghalaya & Ors]..The division bench of Chief Justice S Vaidyanathan and Justice W Diengdoh also said that the AAI “in the national interest” should at least ensure that there are hopping flights (non-direct flights) on Fridays and Sundays to Bhopal from major cities or States like Chennai, Kerala, Kolkata, Guwahati and Shillong. Interestingly, one of the reasons that prompted the Court to flag the gaps in accessing Bhopal via flight was the inconvenience experienced by judges who have to visit the National Judicial Academy at Bhopal almost every weekend.“Bhopal is the capital of Madhya Pradesh which is the centre of India. Unfortunately, there are no direct flights to the city of lakes. For example, almost every week sitting Judges and judicial officers are going to Bhopal where the National Judicial Academy is situated and conferences are held on Saturday and Sunday,” the Court said. .The Court explained that on account of the non-availability of direct flights, the judges and other officials are forced to reach Bhopal via Delhi after taking a flight from Guwahati which consumes more time.Such long travel causes lots of fuel consumption and money wastage also, it remarked. The Court further observed that when small aircrafts carrying 96 passengers are able to fly up to Delhi from Shillong, there cannot be any hurdle for the introduction of such flights from various metros via Bhopal. “Since Shillong is a tourist place, the officials stated that more small aircrafts are required from various places to Shillong to develop tourism,” it added..While stating that the AAI must ensure at least hopping flights to Bhopal from the major cities, the Court said,“The authority must consider that in future, at least, there should be a weekly flight on Friday and Sunday to Bhopal from Shillong directly or hopping flights may be introduced, which can fly upto Bhopal or fly via Bhopal. Every citizen of this Country must visit the ‘city of lakes’ to know how the waterbody is protected."The Court was hearing a batch of petitions related to the development and expansion of the facilities at the Shillong Airport which is about an hour’s drive from the city centre, at Umroi..The judges had also personally inspected the Shillong airport runway on March 13 and found that the length of runway was required to be widened to operate flights which can carry more than 200 passengers. The Court is now also planning to visit three other airports, in Bhutan, Leh as well as the Andaman and Nicobar, to get first-hand information with regard to the physical and technical specifications of such airports so that the same could be replicated at the Shillong airport.“On the request of the counsel for the parties, this Court will visit the three Airports,” the bench recorded in the order..The State government told the Court that it would bear the expenses for the travel since it was interested in having a bigger airport in the State to attract tourists.The bench said it expects the AAI to arrange proper facilities for smooth visit and inspection of the airports including the Paro International Airport in Bhutan for which Central government’s consent may be required.“[We] also expect that the AAI should take necessary consent from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, New Delhi to take up the matter with the Bhutan Government so that we can inspect the Paro International Airport,” the order said..In this regard, the Court observed that since Code of Civil Procedure empowers a civil court to inspect a property or site, the High Court would also have a right to inspect various aerodromes to bring betterment to the Shillong airport for landing of bigger aircrafts.“We expect the learned Amicus Curiae and respective respondents through their counsel and also the officials of the State and AAI to visit these three Airports from 10.04.2024 to 18.04.2024,” it said while listing the matter next on April 29. .Amicus Curiae P Yobin assisted the Court in the matterAdditional Advocate General K Khan and Additional Senior Government Advocate AH Kharwanlang represented the State of Meghalaya.Deputy Solicitor General Dr N Mozika with Advocate A Pradhan represented the Central government. .[Read Order]