Chhattisgarh High Court Directs Chief Secretary To Monitor Completion Of Bilaspur Airport Utility Building, Sets 3-Month Deadline
The Chhattisgarh High Court has directed the Chief Secretary of the State to personally ensure that the public utility building outside the terminal at Bilaspur Airport is completed within three months. The Court further noted with concern that despite repeated communications from the State Government seeking takeover of Bilaspur Airport, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) had not...
The Chhattisgarh High Court has directed the Chief Secretary of the State to personally ensure that the public utility building outside the terminal at Bilaspur Airport is completed within three months. The Court further noted with concern that despite repeated communications from the State Government seeking takeover of Bilaspur Airport, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) had not responded, and called upon AAI to disclose the specific steps taken on those requests.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal was hearing public interest litigations concerning the development and operationalisation of Bilaspur Airport. During the hearing, the State Government placed on record a detailed affidavit outlining the progress made. The affidavit stated that the State had repeatedly requested the Airports Authority of India to take over the airport for its operation, management and further development, including through letters issued by the Chief Minister and the Secretary (Aviation), but no response had been received.
The Court took note of the submission made on behalf of the petitioners that the public utility building located outside the terminal building was still under construction. Observing the need for expeditious completion of the remaining infrastructure, it directed the Chief Secretary to personally monitor the work and ensure that all efforts are made to complete the building within three months. The Court also directed the Director, Directorate of Aviation, to file a personal affidavit before the next date of hearing indicating the further progress made.
Expressing dissatisfaction over the Airports Authority of India's inaction, the Bench recorded that AAI had not responded to the State Government's letters seeking takeover of the airport. It accordingly directed AAI to file an affidavit specifying the steps taken pursuant to the State's communications dated 12 December 2025 and 11 February 2026.
Case Title: Kamal Kumar Dubey (Died) Through LRs v. Union of India & Ors. [WPPIL No. 37 of 2017 & WPPIL No. 67 of 2017]