The Supreme Court of India on Wednesday asked the Uttarakhand High Court to quickly decide two petitions filed by aviation firm Deccan Charters Pvt Ltd against the repeated temporary takeover of its private helipad at Govind Ghat by the state government.
A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi, directed the Registrar General of the Uttarakhand High Court to seek instructions from the chief justice of the high court and list the pending cases in the week starting March 9, 2026. The Supreme Court also asked the high court to decide the petitions within two months.
The top court noted that the annual Char Dham Yatra is approaching and said that if the high court does not decide the pleas within the given time, the aviation company can return to the Supreme Court and ask for the matter to be revived there.
Deccan Charters Pvt Ltd has described the state government’s actions as “illegal, unabated, and unconstitutional”. The company, which has been operating helicopter shuttle services for the Shri Hemkund Sahibji Yatra since 2011, says it holds a valid lease for the Govind Ghat helipad in Chamoli district until March 2027.
According to the petition filed through lawyer Smarhar Singh, the trouble began on May 23, 2024, when the state government first temporarily acquired the helipad for the yatra season. The company challenged this move in the high court.
However, while that case was still pending, the state government issued another order on June 27, 2025, temporarily acquiring the helipad again for six months. The company claims that this second order was issued without resolving the first dispute.
The petition alleges that officials even broke the locks of the helipad and handed over the facility to Pawan Hans Limited, a government-owned helicopter service provider, allowing it to carry out commercial operations from the site.
Deccan Charters says it constructed and maintained the helipad at Govind Ghat and has invested significant resources in developing the facility. It argues that repeated temporary acquisitions during the peak yatra season have caused serious financial losses and damaged its business reputation.
The company has also accused the state government of misusing its powers under the doctrine of “eminent domain”. It claims that the authorities did not follow the proper procedures laid down in the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.
In its plea, the company has asked for the acquisition orders dated May 23, 2024, and June 27, 2025, to be quashed. It has also requested that possession of the helipad be restored to it. In addition, the company has sought compensation for losses, calculated at ₹5,000 per landing carried out by Pawan Hans during what it calls the period of illegal occupation.
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When the matter came up before the Supreme Court, the bench took note of the approaching 2026 Char Dham Yatra, which is expected to begin in May. Helicopter services play a key role in transporting pilgrims to high-altitude religious sites, especially elderly and physically challenged devotees.
The court observed that since the petitions are already pending before the Uttarakhand High Court, it would be appropriate for that court to decide the matter first. It therefore directed that the cases be listed in early March and disposed of within two months.
The Supreme Court’s order aims to ensure that the dispute is resolved before the start of the yatra season, so that there is clarity about who has the right to operate from the Govind Ghat helipad.
The bench also provided a safeguard for the company. It said that if the high court fails to decide the matter within the given time frame, Deccan Charters can approach the Supreme Court again for further relief.
The case highlights the tension between private operators and state authorities during major pilgrimage seasons in Uttarakhand. The Char Dham Yatra attracts lakhs of pilgrims every year, and helicopter services are in high demand due to difficult terrain and unpredictable weather conditions.
Deccan Charters says it has been providing services for the Shri Hemkund Sahibji Yatra for more than a decade and that its lease remains valid until March 2027. The company argues that repeated temporary acquisitions create uncertainty and discourage private investment in infrastructure.
On the other hand, state governments often justify temporary acquisitions during peak pilgrimage seasons as necessary to ensure smooth management and public interest.
The Uttarakhand High Court will now examine whether the state government followed due process while acquiring the helipad and whether the rights of the private leaseholder were violated.
The outcome of the case could have wider implications for how state authorities exercise emergency or temporary acquisition powers, especially in matters involving private infrastructure used for public events.
For now, the Supreme Court has made it clear that the matter needs urgent attention. With the Char Dham Yatra only a few months away, the high court’s decision will determine who operates the Govind Ghat helipad in the upcoming season and whether the state’s actions were lawful.
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