SHILLONG: The High Court of Meghalaya on Friday asked the Airport Authority of India and the Ministry of Civil Aviation to file their responses to clarify the position regarding operation of ATRs from Umroi to Delhi and also regarding irregular service of Alliance Airline Allied Services Limited from Kolkata to Umroi airport.
The response will have to be filed against the affidavits separately filed by Alliance Airline Allied Services Limited, Interglobe Aviation Limited, Jet Airways and Spice Jet.
After the case came up for hearing, the division bench comprising Chief Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir and Justice SR Sen said the affidavit filed on March 7 on behalf of Interglobe Aviation Limited (Indigo) is suggestive of the fact that ATR 72-600 can technically be operated from Shillong to New Delhi, however, Indigo will be able to carry not more than 45 passengers on board against the seating capacity of 74 passengers depending upon wind speeds.
It was made clear by senior counsel as well as the two representatives of Interglobe Aviation Limited namely, Rahul Kumar and Surinder Pal Singh Narli that operating of ATR 72-600 from Kolkata to Umroi airport, the Indigo airline requires at least six months’ time as was earlier mentioned in the affidavit filed in February this year.
When the court specifically asked as to what is the difficulty in operating ATR 72-600 from Delhi to Umroi airport, the reply was that it was not commercially viable and that there was no such plan but they will try to work out a plan for viable operation of ATR 72-600 from Delhi to Umroi airport.
Deepak Mahendra, Chief Financial Officer of Air Asia Limited filed an affidavit wherein repeatedly, he has tendered an unconditional apology and has also regretted what he had written in the affidavit particularly para (g) of the affidavit on February 6.
“The manner it was today presented by BK Sharma, senior counsel and the body language of Deepak Mahendra, we are persuaded to hold that regret/apology has come from the heart, sense and repentance is apparent, therefore, we are persuaded to accept his unconditional apology. Accordingly, no further proceedings are required to continue against Deepak Mahendra,” the order said.
The matter has been posted for hearing on March 19.
