The Supreme Court has lifted the Himachal Pradesh High Court’s order that had stalled the expansion of the Gaggal (Kangra) Airport. The March 7 decision, made by a bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, criticized the High Court’s move to impose a blanket stay on the project, calling it inappropriate and harmful to progress.
The bench, which included Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, emphasized the negative impact of halting infrastructural projects without considering the consequences. “Such orders lead to time and cost overruns, making them uncalled for in the case of essential developments like the airport expansion,” the court noted.
The High Court’s original stay order, issued on January 9, had paused the state’s efforts to acquire land for the project, following a petition from local families who would be affected by the expansion. The families, whose homes stand on the notified land, had sought protection from being displaced.
During a previous hearing, the state’s Advocate General assured the High Court that no one would be removed from the land and no structures would be demolished. This assurance was reiterated by Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, who represented the Himachal Pradesh Government in the Supreme Court. The court acknowledged this guarantee, stating that the assurance would remain in effect unless circumstances changed.
The Supreme Court vacated the High Court’s stay but allowed the lower court to continue hearing the case on its merits. Should the situation evolve, the state is free to seek further modifications in court. The ruling has cleared the way for the airport project to resume, subject to future legal considerations.
The case, titled Principal Secretary & Ors v. Gaggal Airport Expansion Affected Social Welfare Committee, highlights the ongoing struggle between development and local displacement concerns.
