EXTRACTS FROM THE AIR PORT AUTHORITY OF INDIA ACT, 1994 (55 OF 1994)
Definitions.
28A. In this Chapter, unless the context otherwise requires,-
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(e) “Tribunal” means the Airport Appellate Tribunal established under sub-section (1) of section 28-I;
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Disposal of property left on airport premises by unauthorized occupants.
28E. (1) Where any persons have been evicted from any airport premises under section 28D, the eviction officer may, after giving ten days notice to the persons from whom possession of the airport premises has been taken and after publishing the notice in at least one newspaper having circulation in the locality, remove or cause to be removed or dispose of by public auction any property remaining on such premises.
(2) Where any property is sold under sub-section (1), the sale proceeds thereof shall, after deducting the expenses of the sale and the amount, if any, due to the Central Government or the corporate authority on account of arrears of rent or damages or costs, be paid to such person or persons as may appear to the eviction officer to be entitled to the same:
Provided that where the eviction officer is unable to decide as to the person or persons to whom the balance of the amount is payable or as to the apportionment of the same, he may refer such dispute to the Tribunal and the decision of the Tribunal thereon shall be final.
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Establishment of Tribunal.
28-I. (1) The Central Government shall, by notification in the Official Gazette, establish a Tribunal, to be known as the Airport Appellate Tribunal, to exercise the jurisdiction, powers and authority conferred on it by or under this Act and the Control of National Highways (Land and Traffic) Act, 2002 (13 of 2002.).
(2) The Tribunal shall consist of a Chairperson (hereinafter referred to in this Act, as the Chairperson of the Tribunal).
(3) The head office of the Tribunal shall be at New Delhi:
Provided that the Tribunal may hold its sittings at other places as the Chairperson of the Tribunal may decide, from time to time, having taken into consideration the convenience to decide the appeals before the Tribunal.
(4) The Chairperson of the Tribunal shall be appointed by the Central Government after consultation with the Chief Justice of India.
(5) A person shall not be qualified for appointment as Chairperson of the Tribunal unless he is, or has been, or is qualified to be, a Judge of a High Court.
(6) The Chairperson of the Tribunal shall hold office as such for a term of three years from the date on which he enters upon his office or until he attains the age of sixty-two years, whichever is earlier.
(7) The salaries and allowances payable to, and other terms and conditions of service of, the Chairperson of the Tribunal shall be such as may be prescribed:
Provided that neither the salary and allowances nor other terms and conditions of service of the Chairperson of the Tribunal shall be varied to his disadvantage after his appointment.
Resignation and removal.
28J. (1) The Chairperson of the Tribunal may, by notice in writing under his hand addressed to the Central Government, resign his office:
Provided that the Chairperson of the Tribunal shall, unless he is permitted by the Central Government to relinquish his office sooner, continue to hold office until the expiry of three months from the date of receipt of such notice or until a person duly appointed as his successor enters upon his office or until the expiry of his term of office, whichever is the earliest.
(2) The Chairperson of the Tribunal shall not be removed from his office except by an order made by the Central Government on the ground of proved misbehaviour or incapacity after an inquiry made by a Judge of the Supreme Court in which such Chairperson had been informed of the charges against him and given reasonable opportunity of being heard in respect of those charges.
(3) The Central Government may, by rules, regulate the procedure for the investigation of misbehaviour or incapacity of the Chairperson of the Tribunal.
Qualifications, terms and conditions of service of Chairperson.
28JA. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the qualifications, appointment, term of office, salaries and allowances, resignation, removal and the other terms and conditions of service of the Chairperson of the Tribunal appointed after the commencement of Part XIV of Chapter VI of the Finance Act, 2017 (7 of 2017.), shall be governed by the provisions of section 184 of that Act:
Provided that the Chairperson appointed before the commencement of Part XIV of Chapter VI of the Finance Act, 2017, shall continue to be governed by the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder as if the provisions of section 184 of the Finance Act, 2017 (7 of 2017.) had not come into force.
Appeals to Tribunal.
28K. (1) Any person aggrieved by an order of the eviction officer under this Chapter may, within fifteen days from the date of such order, prefer an appeal to the Tribunal in such form as may be prescribed:
Provided that the Tribunal may entertain any appeal after the expiry of the said period of fifteen days, but not after the period of thirty days from the date aforesaid, if it is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from filing the appeal in time.
(2) On receipt of an appeal under sub-section (1), the Tribunal shall, after giving the appellant and the eviction officer an opportunity of being heard, pass such order as it thinks fit.
(3) The Tribunal shall dispose of the appeal within thirty days from the date of filing the appeal:
Provided that the Tribunal may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, dispose of the appeal within a further period of fifteen days.
(4) An order of the Tribunal passed under sub-section (2) shall be executable as a decree of a civil court and for executing the same the Tribunal shall send a copy thereof to the civil court having jurisdiction which shall execute the same, as expeditiously as may be possible, as if such order is a decree passed by that court.
(5) On and from the date from which any jurisdiction, powers and authority becomes exercisable under this Chapter by the Tribunal in relation to any matter, no court (except the Supreme Court under article 136 and the High Court under articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution shall have, or be entitled to exercise any jurisdiction, powers or authority in relation to such matter.
Procedure and powers of Tribunal.
28L. (1) The Tribunal shall not be bound by the procedure laid down in the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908.) but shall be guided by the principles of natural justice, and, subject to the other provisions of this Act and of any rules made by the Central Government, the Tribunal shall have power to lay down and regulate its own procedure including the fixing of places and times of its inquiry and deciding whether to sit in public or in private.
(2) The Tribunal shall have, for the purpose of discharging its functions under this Chapter, the same powers as are vested in a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908.), while trying a suit in respect of the following matters, namely:-
(a) summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on oath;
(b) requiring the discovery and production of documents;
(c) any other matter which may be prescribed.
(3) Any proceeding before the Tribunal shall be deemed to be a judicial proceeding within the meaning of sections 193 and 228, and for the purposes of section 196, of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860.) and the Tribunal shall be deemed to be a civil court for all the purposes of section 195 and Chapter XXVI of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974.).
Finality of orders.
28M. Subject to the provisions of this Act, every order made by an eviction officer or the Tribunal under this Chapter shall be final and shall not be called in question in any suit, application, execution or other proceeding and no injunction shall be granted by any court or other authority in respect of any action taken or intended to be taken in pursuance of any power conferred by or under this Chapter.
Offences under this Chapter.
28N. (1) Whoever, unlawfully occupies any airport premises, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six years and with fine.
(2) Whoever fails to comply with any order of the eviction officer or the Tribunal under this Chapter shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years and with fine.
(3) If any person who has been evicted from any airport premises under this Chapter again occupies the premises without authority for such occupation, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years and with fine.
(4) The court may, while convicting a person under sub-section (3), make an order for evicting that person summarily and he shall be liable to such eviction without prejudice to any other action that may be taken under this Chapter.
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Protection of action taken in good faith.
33. No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie against the Authority or any member or any officer or other employee of the Authority or the Chairperson of the Tribunal for anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done in pursuance of this Act or of any rule or regulation made thereunder or for any damage sustained by any aircraft or vehicle in consequence of any defect in any of the airports, civil enclaves, heliports, airstrips, aeronautical communication stations or other things belonging to or under the control of the Authority.
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Power to make rules.
41. (1) * * * *
(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for-
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(gvi) the salaries and allowances payable to, and other terms and conditions of service of, the Chairperson of the Tribunal under sub-section (7) of section 28-I;
(gvii) the procedure for the investigation of misbehaviour or incapacity of the Chairperson of the Tribunal under sub-section (3) of section 28J;
(gviii) the form of appeal under sub-section (1) of section 28k;
(gix) any other matter under clause (c) of sub-section (2) of section 28L;
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