'We Have Been Asking For A Year, No Efforts Being Made': MP High Court Remarks Over Lack Of Progress To Increase Flights To Jabalpur

While hearing a PIL for increasing flights to Jabalpur, the Madhya Pradesh High Court on Wednesday (July 30) orally expressed its concern over the lack of progress in the matter and pointed out the reduction in flights by Indigo as well as the expensive ticket rates charged by the airline. 

The court further orally said that if the airline cannot increase the number of flights it should atleast optimize the timings for benefit of the travellers.

In the previous hearing, the high court while granting time to the State to comply with its earlier order, had said that it expects that a joint meeting of high officials of state government with high officers of respective airlines would be held. 

When the matter was taken up today, the State's counsel submitted that a meeting was conducted on July 29 with the various airlines.

"We have requested them to raise the number of flights..." the state's counsel said. 

To which a division bench of Chief Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Vinay Saraf orally remarked:

"They (airlines) have rather reduced it...Then shut the airport. Completely shut it...Why should we have an airport?...spend so much on infrastructure and there are no flights. If they (airlines) are not coming on board, take action. Something has to be done". 

When the court asked the counsel appearing for Indigo Airlines (Respondent no 6) regarding the reduction in flights, the counsel sought time to seek instructions.

The court, however, pointed out that this had become a recurring pattern. 

"Instead of increasing, you are reducing (the number of flights). You stop air traffic to Madhya Pradesh completely, stop it, if it is not viable.  Indigo, gets an extra route. Anybody who has to travel has to now first go to Indore and then take a direct flight. So instead of one, you are getting two sectors. Your tickets are going Rs. 20,000, 30,000, 40,000 in one sector. Normal ticket is Rs. 4,000 5,000, it is going up to 40-40 thousand rupees. If that's how you are gonna treat your customers, then might as well shut the airlines", the bench orally observed. 

Expressing concern at the lack of progress in the matter, the court orally said, "Every time this is happening, for a year, we have been asking you. No steps are being taken, no efforts being made...asked for relaxation from the government, they have given you relaxation in tariff, in fuel, surcharge, but no". 

The bench further orally raised the issue of inconvenient flight timings and said:

"If you want one flight, at least have it at an appropriate time. What is an afternoon flight going to do? Afternoon flight is not for business people. Business people like to come in the morning or go in the morning and come back in the evening. Afternoon is neither here nor there".

It further orally remarked, "If you can't increase the flights, at least optimise the timings. If there is an issue with the state government, DGCA, we will ask them". 

At the request of the counsel for the respondent to take instructions, the court listed the matter for hearing August 11.

The PIL was filed by Nagrik Upbhokta Margdarshak Manch, which highlighted that Jalabalpur is home to 3 defence factories, 5 universities, as well as to well-known religious sites. Despite its economic and strategic importance, most of the flights previously operating from Jabalpur have been discontinued, despite nearly INR 500 crores being spent on upgrading the airport. 

During the hearing on February 19, the counsel for Akasa Air argued that the User Development Fee (UDF) charged by the Airport Authority and the tax on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) levied by the State Government were significantly higher compared to other airports in the country. It was suggested that if these charges were reduced, operating flights from Jabalpur would become more commercially viable. Following these submissions, the court had passed directions to add the State Government as a respondent. 

On March 26, the Deputy Advocate General informed the court that the State had proposed certain concessions in VAT on aviation fuel to support airline operations. 

On April 21, the State Government submitted a formal statement outlining the incentives it proposed to offer to the airlines.  The counsel for Indigo Airlines also informed the court that it could take instructions from the airline regarding the possibility of increasing flight operations. 

Case Title: Nagrik Upbhokta Margdarshak Manch & Ors v. Union Of India & Ors, WP No. 14563 of 2024