Don’t act like a politician, HC lambasts DGCA

  • | Thursday | 27th April, 2017

DGCA is not expected to act like a politician. You are not expected to make everyone happy," said Justice Kanade. It is your duty, your baby, your responsibility,'' said Justice Kanade. "Don't act like a politician. In the order, the judges said, "We expect DGCA to take this matter a little more seriously and not insist on technicalities.

Mumbai: Bombay high court on Thursday lambasted the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, telling it not to act like a politician and to focus on taking immediate action against highrises falling in the flight path of Mumbai airport.A bench of Justices Vidyasagar Kanade and C V Bhadang heard a PIL by advocate Yeshwant Shenoy regarding danger to aircraft by highrises. The court was miffed that the aviation regulator was raising technical objections over the list of buildings submitted by Mumbai International Airport Ltd, the airport operator. The HC had on April 12 directed DGCA to take action and pass final orders for demolition or deduction of height of 110 buildings, which are inside the approach funnel of the airport within two months. The approach funnel is a space earmarked for safe landing and take-off.Senior advocate Rajiv Chavan, representing DGCA, said out of 110 structures, notices were issued to 57, and among them 42 owners have been called for a hearing after which final demolition orders will be passed. He said there are 317 structures by MIAL and in some final verification of height was not done. This was when the judges lost their cool. "Don't act like a politician. DGCA is not expected to act like a politician. You are not expected to make everyone happy," said Justice Kanade. Senior advocate Praveen Samdani, appearing for MIAL, said a detailed tabulated record was sent to DGCA. "You (DGCA) should not have an attitude of hands raised. You should act on a war-footing, It is a serious matter,'' said Justice Kanade.The judges said the matter concerns safety of all and consequences will be terrible if something happens. "Not only in Bombay, all cities must examine what is happening. It is your duty, your baby, your responsibility,'' said Justice Kanade. In the order, the judges said, "We expect DGCA to take this matter a little more seriously and not insist on technicalities."BMC's advocate said the fifth and sixth floors and overhead tank on the terrace of Sunita Building in Santacruz had been demolished and it will finish razing the fourth floor within a week. DGCA was directed to immediately look into Shenoy's list of offending buildings, including one which is 13 floors above the permissible height, and take immediate action in accordance with the law.

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