'HAL airport is safe for operations'

During the hearing, B C Thirvengadam, Counsel for AAIEU submitted that the airport is still in use to fly the VVIPs and the submission by Airport Authority of India (AAI) regarding its safety cannot be accepted. He also submitted that the Cargo flights too use the airport for loading and unloading.

The AAI, in its submission, reacting to the earlier submission that the Union Ministry for Aviation has accepted the recommendations of the tripartite committee to reoperationalise the old airports of Bangalore and Hyderabad, said that there is only communication from the Ministry, but no directions.

The AAIEU counsel had submitted that the Union Ministry for Aviation had accepted the recommendations of the tripartite committee to reoperationalise the old airports of Bangalore and Hyderabad. He had stated that the Union Ministry for Civil Aviation on 29, July, 2009 had written to the Chairman, AAI confirming the acceptance of the recommendations.

‘Submit records’
The HC has directed the City Police to submit the records related to prior publicity in connection with the closure of City hotels after 12 midnight. Hearing a petition by the Empire Group of hotels, the division bench comprising Chief Justice P D Dinakaran and Justice V G Sabhahit has directed the City Police to place before it the documents related to the order.

The Government counsel submitted that the commissioner had powers under Section 31 (6) of Karnataka Police Act to act without prior publication and the same had been exercised. The HC directed the Police to produce the original records. The matter has been adjourned. It could be recalled that the Empire group of hotels had challenged the Police Commissioner’s order to permit them to open the restaurant during the late hours.