IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) TUESDAY, THE SEVENTH DAY OF SEPTEMBER TWO THOUSAND AND FOUR PRESENT THE HON'BLE SRI DEVINDER GUPTA,THE CHIEF JUSTICE and THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE C.V.RAMULU WRIT PETITION NO : 14008 of 2004 Between: Paper clipping of Vartha Telugu Daily Newspaper dated 5-8-2004, containing the news under the caption, "Lootng at Airport 'Parking'" ..... PETITIONER AND 1 The Airports Authority, Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Begumpet, Hyderabad 2 The Airport Authority of India, New Delhi 3 The Commissioner of Police, Twin Cities, Hyderabad. 4 The Superintendent, Central Industrial Security Force, Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Begumpet, Hyderabad. 5 The Secretary to the Govt.of A.P., Home (Police) Department, Secretariat, Hyderabad .....RESPONDENTS Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that for the reasons stated in the "Paper clipping of Vartha Telugu Daily Newspaper' dated 5-8- 2004 shown as the Petitioner herein this Hon'ble Court may be pleased to issue an Order, direction, or a Writ, more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus calling for remarks and records from the Respondents herein in and connected to (1) the collection of parking fees at the rate of Rs.30/- per Car/jeep, Rs.10/- per Two- wheeler, and Rs.50/- per mini bus/ van as per the regulations of the Airport Authority, (2) the illegal and arbitrary action of the contractors and their sub-contractors in fleecing Rs.80/- per vehicle for parking in the name of premier parking fee from the vehicle-owners, who just come to drop their concerned persons, relatives and friends at the airport, and the vehicle owners, who stop their vehicles even for two minutes anywhere at the airport, at the Rajiv Gandhi and NTR Terminals, (3) the contractors' and sub-contractors' behaviour of abusing and assaulting the vehicle- owners, who refuse to give Rs.80/- as parking fee, (4) carrying of luggage for about to half a kilometer by the helpless commuters on account of the parking fee menace and (5) inaction of the Airport Authorities, traffic police and the Central Industrial Security Force Personnel in not taking any action to stop the menace of forcible collection of Rs.80/- per vehicle in the name of premier parking and to pass appropriate orders directing the concerned authorities to take action in curbing the menace of arbitrary collection of parking fee. Counsel for the Petitioner: NEWS ITEM Counsel for the Respondent Nos.1 and 2: Mr.E.Madan Mohan Rao Counsel for the Respondents 3 to 5: The Advocate General. The Court made the following : ORAL ORDER: (per the Hon’ble the Chief Justice) Affidavit in reply has been filed by the Air Port Director, Airports Authority of India, Hyderabad Airport stating that car parking rates of different categories of vehicles are applicable to all international/model airports across the country. The same had been revised as per the memorandum of understanding signed by the Ministry of Civil Aviation to increase the non-traffic revenue of Airports. At the Hyderabad Airport, rates have come into force with effect from 18-11-2003 and the same has been circulated by the Airports Authority of India to all international/model airports in the country. The rates specified of charging parking fee are applicable for a duration of four hours or part thereof. The affidavit enumerates the categories of vehicles exempted from payment of parking fee. In view of the counter affidavit placing on record the memorandum of understanding on the basis of which the rates have been fixed, no directions can be issued in the writ petition. The writ petition is accordingly closed. ___________________ DEVINDER GUPTA, CJ 7-9-2004 _____________ C.V.RAMULU, J Tvr To 1 The Airports Authority, Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Begumpet, Hyderabad 2 The Airport Authority of India, New Delhi 3 The Commissioner of Police, Twin Cities, Hyderabad. 4 The Superintendent, Central Industrial Security Force, Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Begumpet, Hyderabad. 5 The Secretary to the Govt.of A.P., Home (Police) Department, Secretariat, Hyderabad 6 2 CCs to the Advocate General, High Court of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad (OUT). 7 2 CD copies.