The Supreme Court of India has intervened in the Gaggal airport expansion project in Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh, putting on hold a Himachal Pradesh High Court order that had previously stalled the project. The Apex Court, led by Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, observed that the high court's decision had effectively brought the entire expansion project to a standstill, despite categorical assurances from the state government regarding a relief and rehabilitation process.

The stay order by the Supreme Court comes in response to an appeal filed by the state government, represented by senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi. Rohatgi assured the top court that the state was committed to ensuring that no one would be dispossessed, and there would be no demolitions during the execution of the expansion project. Additionally, he informed the court that the state was considering a fresh techno-economic feasibility study for the project.

The high court's order, issued on January 9, had raised concerns about the project's future, prompting the state government to seek redress from the Supreme Court. The Apex Court, in response, stayed the high court's order and scheduled the next hearing for February 29, allowing the high court to examine the writ petition on its merits.

The bench, which included Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, issued a notice and clarified that the stay order would not prevent the high court from hearing the writ petition on its substantive aspects. This nuanced approach by the Supreme Court aims to balance the need for a thorough examination of the matter while ensuring that the project does not face unnecessary delays.

During the hearing, the counsel for the writ petitioner, Gaggal Airport Expansion Affected Society Welfare Committee, presented several concerns. These included financial issues faced by the state in completing the expansion project and highlighted the seismic nature of the region.