Why Is Nagpur Airport Shut Daily Since March 2024? Bombay High Court Takes Suo Moto Cognizance; Seeks Response From Authorities

The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court, earlier this month, took suo motu cognisance of the issue of the Nagpur Airport being kept shut for at least eight hours on a daily basis since March 2024.

A division bench of Justices Nitin Sambre and Abhay Mantri took cognisance of a news report in a Marathi daily on August 2, wherein it was disclosed that the operation of the Nagpur Airport was being kept shut every day due to some repair work being carried out on the runway.

"The news item further discloses that since March 2024 till this date there is hardly any repairing activity carried out. Due to closure of the Airport, the travellers of the Central India are facing hardship and inconvenience. Considering the geographical location of the Nagpur City, being the centre of the country, the operation of the Airport is for the convenience of the people residing in Central India," the judges said in the order passed on August 2.

The bench further said, "In this background, we deem it appropriate to take cognizance based on the said news by treating the said news item as Public Interest Litigation."

Having taken cognisance of the issue, the bench appointed advocate Kartik Shukul as an Amicus Curiae to assist the Court.

The bench therefore, ordered Shukul to frame an appropriate petition within a period of one week and serve advance copies of the same to NS Deshpande, the Deputy Solicitor General of India and DV Chauhan, Government Pleader.

The bench further issued notices to Principal Secretary, Department of Civil Aviation, Maharashtra Government, the Maharashtra Airport Development Company, Ministry of Civil Aviation Government of India, the Multi Modal International Cargo Hub and Airport at Nagpur (MIHAN).

The bench has also ordered the said authorities to file their responses in the matter and has posted the matter for further hearing on August 14.

Click Here To Read/Download Order