The Delhi High Court has dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) that sought to challenge the closure of the old Visakhapatnam airport at Dega. This decision follows the transfer of commercial flight operations to the newly inaugurated Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport.
Court’s Decision
A Division Bench consisting of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia heard the case. They advised the petitioner, Gopala Krishna Kosaraju, to present his concerns to the Andhra Pradesh High Court. The Bench emphasized that since the primary cause of action occurred in Andhra Pradesh, the appropriate venue for the case is the Andhra Pradesh High Court.
The Court’s order stated, “Petition dismissed on the ground of forum convenience. It is needless to say that the petitioner will be at liberty to agitate his case before the jurisdictional High Court.” This ruling underscores the importance of jurisdictional propriety in legal proceedings.
Background of the Airport Closure
The old Visakhapatnam airport at INS Dega, known for handling scheduled commercial flights for decades, halted such operations last month. This move coincided with the opening of the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram, which commenced operations on August 1. All scheduled passenger flights have since been relocated to the new airport, while the INS Dega site remains operational for non-scheduled and military activities.
Petitioner’s Argument
Advocate Pranav Sachdeva, representing the petitioner, argued against the new airport’s location, noting it is approximately 60 kilometers from Visakhapatnam city and requires over two hours to reach. He emphasized the lack of connectivity and the resulting inconvenience to the public, highlighting that substantial public funds had been invested in the old airport.
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Despite these arguments, the Bench reiterated that the primary grievances were localized to Visakhapatnam, further justifying the need to redirect the petition to the Andhra Pradesh High Court.
