SUDHANSHU GUPTA Vs. AIRPORT AUTHORITY OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioners in these six writ-petitions were employed as Air Traffic Controllers with the Airport Authority of India, i.e., respondent No. 1 and are aggrieved by their dismissal from service without holding an enquiry on the ground that in the interest of security of the Authority and public interest, it was not expedient to hold an enquiry.

(2.) The Cadre of Air Traffic Controllers has three posts of Assistant Aerodrome Officer, Aerodrome Officer and Senior Aerodrome Officer and the petitioners were recruited through a regular process of selection. These Air Traffic Controllers perform critical functions of managing the control of air traffic and the entire communication systems of the airports including communication with the aircraft in air, landing and take off of the aircrafts. Thus, safety of the aircrafts is dependent on the performance of these Air Traffic Controllers.

(3.) The job profile of the Air Traffic Controllers has been summarized and set out in the writ petition as under :-