The Delhi High Court on Monday directed de-sealing of the Delhi Flying Club (DFC) and asked the management to take out its articles and complete the winding-up process of the premises at the Safdarjung Airport in two months.
‘No fresh booking’
Justice Rajiv Shakdher clearly asked the DFC to use the premises only for the winding-up process and also not to take any fresh booking for events.
The DFC was established in 1928 with the aim to train young men and women as aviators.
Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, former Odisha Chief Minister Biju Patnaik and former Air Chief Marshal and Padma Vibhushan awardee P.C. Lal are some of the alumni of the club.
From April 26
The court added that the club will be de-sealed with effect from April 26 and it will give the physical possession of the premises to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) on or before June 26.
It asked the club to submit in five days the list of booking that had already been made by them and to specify if any money would be received from the existing bookings, so that it could be put to a designated account to be used for disbursing salaries and other benefits to employees and meet other business expenses.
During the hearing, DFC’s counsel said it was ready to vacate the premises, provided a period of eight weeks is granted for that purpose.
Physical possession
Advocate Digvijay Rai, appearing for the AAI, said they have already taken the physical possession of the premises and cannot give access to them to the entire property, but were ready to allow them to take out the articles.
In July 2016, the High Court had dismissed a plea of the Delhi Flying Club challenging its eviction from the Safdarjung Airport here.
