Overview
- A division bench of Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad held that a writ court cannot direct the Civil Aviation Ministry on a state proposal under Article 226.
- The petition by Prakashjot Samajik Sanstha, led by Vikas Parshuram Patil, was rejected after the court found no legally enforceable right to compel a naming decision.
- Petitioners argued the move would avert potential unrest, while the court noted a proposal is only an expression of intent to be decided per regulations.
- Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said the state proposed ‘Loknete D B Patil’ and cited a positive response from the Prime Minister.
- Project-affected leaders say they will approach the Supreme Court and have warned they will resist flight operations if the name is not finalized by December, while commercial services have yet to begin despite the October 3 inauguration.