NEW DELHI, SEPT 18: Centre on Monday informed the Delhi High Court that views of Defence and Finance Ministries were still awaited while Indian Air Force (IAF) has given its reply to a petition seeking streamlining the use of aircraft by VIPs from the defence communication squadron.Without disclosing the details, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) K K Sud and standing counsel Maninder Singh told the court that IAF had already submitted its views on the issue and replies from Defence and Finance Ministries were still awaited.A division bench comprising Chief Justice Arijit Passayat and Justice D K Jain allowed time till November 8 to the respondents to file their replies.The court on March 13 had issued notices to Cabinet Secretariat, Ministries of Defence and Finance, Chief of Air Staff and Comptroller and Auditor General on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) alleging that IAF aircraft were being misused by the VIPs.The PIL alleged that planes were being flown even on those routes where regular flight of national carrier were available, to carry one or two VIPs or high ranking officials.This was being done in violation of rules and guidelines on use of Defence planes by VIPs and putting enormous burden on the state ex-chequer, the PIL by advocate B L Wadhera said.As the issue related to the people, who were supposed to take a decision on the use of planes, any action was not expected from the government without judicial intervention, the petition said giving year-wise details about the alleged misuse of aircraft since 1992.
