Srinagar, Aug 28: While the centre and state government has invited sharp criticism from the Kashmir civil society over the proposed closure of the Srinagar ‘International’ Airport from September 1, legal experts say the flights blackout was “unsustainable even on constitutional grounds.”
“The suspension of air traffic from September 1 to 12 is unsustainable even on constitutional grounds as it infringes the freedom of movement to people,” said senior counsel, Zaffar Ahmad Shah, when asked about the “legal perspective” on the issue.
The Indian Air Force is closing down the airport from September 1 to September 12 on account of runway re-carpeting, drawing flak from people who accuse the Defence Ministry of putting them to trouble on the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr.
Shah, a senior advocate in the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, asserted that the Defence Ministry must reconsider over the decision. “The Ministry has to find ways and means of balancing the rights of the people on one hand and requirements of carrying out the runway repairs, on the other,” he told Greater Kashmir.
 He argued that the action by the Defence Ministry was contrary to reason and public interest. “The move to suspend air traffic is contrary to reason and public interest. In my view, the repairs may not be carried out in one stretch but can be done gradually without suspending the air traffic,” he said.
 Like lawyers, people are seeking runway repairs on alternate days. “Everybody has a right to travel. It is unfortunate that the state government is unable to convince the Defence Ministry that it can’t close the runway at a stretch for 12 days. It doesn’t happen anywhere in the world,” said an airport official, insisting not to be named. “The Defence Ministry can easily do the work on alternate days, without putting people to trouble.”

Lastupdate on : Sat, 28 Aug 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
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