SC raps govt on lack of air connectivity to Shimla, NE

Taking note of the lack of air connectivity to uneconomic routes such as Shimla and north-eastern states, the Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday rapped the government and Air India for promoting private operators' interests. It noted that the private operators had been granted licences as 'largesse' and they were interested in 'lucrative' routes like Mumbai-Delhi. Air India had moved the apex court against a ruling by the Himachal Pradesh High Court, which had asked it to provide adequate service to the state capital (Shimla).

The appeal was heard several times and the SC bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur criticised the attitude of the civil aviation ministry, which it said gave away licences for lucrative routes such as those touching Mumbai or Bengaluru while neglecting uneconomic routes. The court also said it would appoint an experts' committee to examine the existing guidelines, which allowed airlines to pick and choose profitable routes, while avoiding small towns. The committee could bring out "many skeletons", a judge remarked, adding that the present guidelines were not "sacrosanct" and they could be changed.

"Is it not part of your guidelines to serve people in hilly areas who suffer?" he asked. Additional Solicitor General P S Patwalia pleaded there was nothing to hide in this matter and that existing guidelines were being followed by Air India. He added that setting up a committee would only prolong litigation. He promised the court he would convey its views to the authorities concerned and come back within a week.

To this, the judge remarked that the government was adopting "dilly-dallying tactics" all the time and seeking adjournments. The government sought a week to respond to the court's questions.