Bombay HC declines PIL for expansion of Pune Airport. Read to know why.

By: Pune Pulse

November 30, 2023

Pune: A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking Pune Airport’s expansion was turned down by the Bombay High Court on Wednesday (November 29). The court emphasized that the government had jurisdiction over the airport’s location and growth. According to the court, the judiciary was not authorized to get involved in such matters.

As per further information, the division bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Arif Doctor said that the administration will take that into consideration when deciding where to locate an airport and where not to. The court can only intervene if the administration meddles with laws, rules, fundamental rights and so on.

The bench further said that they did not dispute the argument the petitioner was trying to make and advised the petitioner to seek administrative remedies. The court understands that the petitioner may have a valid argument. Pune needs a larger airport. All they were saying is to use the appropriate forum. The first and most important question is whether this should come before the court or not.

Lohegaon’s Pune Airport is the ninth busiest airport in India in terms of passenger volume. Despite this, the city does not have a stand-alone civilian airport because the Indian Air Force owns the one that currently exists. Petitioner was represented by Adv. Dormaan Dalal.

Shreyas Vange