Delhi High Court Issues Notice On PIL To Reduce Bird Strike With Aircrafts, Close Illegal Slaughterhouses Near IGI Airport

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notice on a public interest litigation seeking to reduce bird aircraft strike hazard and to close illegal slaughterhouses around the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela sought response of Union of India through Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Airports Authority of India, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, Delhi Government, Delhi Pollution Control Committee, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Delhi Development Authority and Delhi Police.

Filed by activist Gauri Maulekhi, the PIL seeks a direction on the authorities to take immediate and effective measures to prevent or reduce Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard and implement Bird Avoidance Model at Indira Gandhi International Airport through effective enforcement of the Aircraft Rules, 1937. It submits that the absence of such a model has resulted into serious accidents in the past.

While seeking response of the authorities, the Court remarked that the reply must indicate the steps taken to implement the relevant Rules and if regular inspections are conducted.

“Issue notice. Having regard to the concerns raised in this PIL, let notices be issued to the respondents. Let replies be filed by all the respondents not only on para wise reply to the petition but also details of the steps taken in respect of the concerns raised in the writ petition,” the Court said while listing the matter on May 14.

The plea seeks a direction on FSSAI and the Delhi Government to carry out inspections, collect legal samples, initiate prosecution and impose penalties on illegal meat shop operators running unlicensed meat shops or carrying out slaughter without license.

A further direction is sought on the Delhi police to register FIRs and commence investigation against individuals and entities operating illegal meat shops, slaughterhouses and other prohibited establishments within the 10 kilometer radius of the IGI Airport.

A direction is also sought on the authorities to ensure coordinated action through Airfield Environment Management Committee to reduce Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard, including but not limited to conducting joint inspections, to address the issue of illegal meat shop clusters within 10-kilometer radius of the Delhi Aerodrome Reference Point.

The PIL contends that the encounter of birds or wildlife with aircrafts at the IGI Airport doesn't only pose a threat to the life and safety of the passengers in the aircrafts, but also to the residents of the neighbouring areas in the event of an aircraft crash.

“During the period of 2018-2023, the total number of bird strikes at the IGI Airport, standing at 705 incidents, outnumbered combined bird strikes incidents reported across 29 airports in 6 different States,” it states.

As per the plea, the primary reason for occurrence of such incidents is on account of presence of slaughter houses or meat shops or dairy farms and environmental pollution around the IGI Airport.

Title: GAURI MAULEKHI v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS.