By IANS,
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court Wednesday pulled up the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for misleading the court and flouting its earlier order barring the use of a runway.
A division bench of Chief Justice Ajit Prakash Shah and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw said: “It is a case of contempt. DGCA has taken the court for a ride.”
On the last date of hearing, the court had barred Delhi International Airport Pvt. Ltd. (DIAL) from using the runway at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport after a nearby hospital alleged that noise created by landing of planes disturbs its patients.
The court was surprised to know from the petitioner Wednesday that the runway was still functioning.
The counsel for the Indian Spinal Injuries hospital explained to the court that the court has put the stay on runway no.29 which was not used. But every runway has two numbers and runway no.29 is also called runway no.11, which is being used.
“You (DGCA) will not touch the runway whatever is its number. It’s a serious matter. We have stayed the use of runway with specific purpose,” the court said while asking the DGCA to file an affidavit by Feb 3 stating how, in spite of the order, the runway was still operational.
Rajiv Nayar, counsel for DIAL, submitted that they were under the process of installing sound barriers and the same will be over in another six months.
But the court was not impressed and said: “These are all fake promises.”
The Indian Spinal Injuries Hospital had filed a petition, alleging that the noise created by the landing aircraft which fly at a low height of 200 ft to 300 ft was disturbing its patients.
“As a result of the thrust of the planes, patients constantly suffer from immense noise pollution created by the planes… sleeplessness is on regular basis. Even the doctors performing surgery have complained,” said the hospital.
The hospital said the noise created by the planes was usually between the range of 75 decibel to 94 decibel and was “clearly beyond the stipulated standards laid down under the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000.
The court is also hearing a similar plea from residents of Vasant Kunj locality who have raised a similar issue.