Supreme Court stays Meghalaya High Court order on Umroi airport

On Thursday, the Supreme Court stayed the Meghalaya High Court order that had directed commercial airlines like Indigo and Spicejet to immediately begin flight operations from Umroi airport in the northeast state.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Indigo airlines had submitted a report stating that there were no firefighting and other facilities available at Umroi airport and flight operations cannot be started immediately. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi took note of the submissions and hence, passed the verdict.

The bench which also comprised Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph said, “The high court order shall remain stayed.”

Apparently, the apex court had on Wednesday agreed to give urgent hearing to the plea of private airlines challenging the high court order asking it to start flight operations form the Umroi Airport, 30 km from the Meghalaya capital Shillong.

Notably, the apex court was told that the high court on its own had last week taken up the matter and asked the Director General of Civil Aviation, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation and Airport Authority of India (AAI) Chairman to hold a meeting within a week on the issue of making the airport operational.

The court was informed that the airport was not ready for landing of big aircraft and does not have fire-fighting facilities.

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