SC lifts Himachal Pradesh HC's stay on Gaggal airport expansion project in Kangra district

In a significant development, the Supreme Court stayed a January 9 Himachal Pradesh High Court order that stalled the Gaggal airport expansion project in the state’s Kangra district.

In a significant development, the Supreme Court stayed a January 9 Himachal Pradesh High Court order that stalled the Gaggal airport expansion project in the state's Kangra district.

The high court, while taking note of a plea filed by some members of the Gaggal Airport Expansion Affected Society Welfare Committee, had stayed the airport expansion project.

It had ordered a status quo till February 29, the next date of hearing, on all aspects of the matter, including the relief and rehabilitation process, taking possession of the land notified for acquisition and the demolition of structures on it.

A bench of Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra took note of the submissions of the Himachal Pradesh government, Airports Authority of India and the National Highways Authority of India and stayed the operation of the high court order.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the government authorities, said of the three airports in Himachal Pradesh, the one in Kangra is the only facility where expansion is a possibility and the high court order has stalled everything despite the Advocate General making a statement that that neither any demolition will take place nor anyone be dispossessed.

"There is already an airport and this is the expansion plan," the Chief Justice said when a lawyer opposed to the project submitted that the place in question falls under a seismic zone.

"We will issue the notice and stay the Himachal Pradesh High Court order," the bench said and added that the high court, however, can proceed to decide with the pending petition.