The Sikkim High Court disposed of a Suo Moto PIL, with the observation that all stakeholders shall consider the issues which led to the suspension of flight operations from Pakyong Airport and address them on a priority basis.
The division bench of Chief Justice Biswanath Somadder and Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai noted, “Various reports and pleadings, however, clearly indicate that there are several issues which are required to be addressed by the stakeholders, especially, with regard to acquiring of land and setting up of proper and essential navigational equipment.”
Based on a news article titled “SpiceJet suspends Pakyong flights for four months,” which was published in an English daily newspaper, on 2nd June, 2019, the suo motu Public Interest Litigation was registered.
The first order is dated 6th June, 2019, and thereafter, the matter has been heard from time to time for more than two years. Pleadings have been exchanged and reports have been filed by various authorities. As of now, the bench was informed that flight operations have resumed at Pakyong Airport.
The bench remarked, “It does not intend to enlarge the scope of the suo motu Public Interest Litigation beyond the issue for which it was initiated, i.e., suspension of flight operations from Pakyong Airport. The reason is, flight operations have resumed from Pakyong Airport.
“We, however, dispose of this Public Interest Litigation with an observation that all stakeholders shall consider the issues which are involved, particularly, those which led to the suspension of flight operations from Pakyong Airport and address them on a priority basis so that the object of creation of Pakyong Airport is not frustrated due to those reasons. This suo motu Public Interest Litigation stands, accordingly, disposed of ”, the order reads.