THE AIRPORTS AUTHORITY OF INDIACentral
Section 3 of The Airports Authority of India Act, 1994
- (1)With effect from the appointed day, the Central Government shall, by notification in the Official Gazette, constitute an Authority to be called the Airports Authority of India.
- (2)The Authority shall be a body corporate by the name aforesaid having perpetual succession and a common seal, with power, subject to the provisions of this Act, to acquire, hold and dispose of property both movable and immovable, and to contract and shall by the said name sue and be sued.
- (3)The Authority shall consist of--
- (a)a Chairperson to be appointed by the Central Government;
- (b)the Director General of Civil Aviation, or an officer not below the rank of the Deputy Director General of Civil Aviation, to be appointed by the Central Government, ex officio;
- (c)not less than eight and not more than fourteen members to be appointed by the Central Government.
- (4)The Chairperson shall be a whole-time member and other members referred to in clause (c) of sub-section (3) may be appointed as whole-time or part-time members as the Central Government may think fit.
- (5)The Chairperson and the members referred to in clause (c) of sub-section (3) shall be chosen from among persons who have special knowledge and experience in air transport of any other transport services, industry, commercial or financial matters or administration and from among persons who are capable of representing organisations of workers and consumers.
Summary
- The central government creates a formal body called the Airports Authority of India.
- It operates as a continuous corporate entity with its own official seal, meaning it can own property, sign contracts, and sue or be sued in its own name.
- The Authority is led by a Chairperson who works full-time.
- The Director General of Civil Aviation (or a deputy) gets a permanent automatic seat on the board as an ex officio member.
Practical examples
1A construction company fails to finish building a runway on time. The Airports Authority of India sues the company in court using its own corporate name, rather than having the central government sue on its behalf.
2The government appoints a former airline CEO, a union leader representing airport workers, and an expert in commercial banking to fill three of the 8 to 14 standard member seats on the Authority.
FAQ
1. Can the Airports Authority buy land?
Yes, it is a corporate body with the legal power to acquire, hold, and sell movable and immovable property.
Test yourself
Q1.Under Section 3 of The Airports Authority of India Act, 1994, what is the minimum and maximum number of general members the Central Government can appoint, excluding the Chairperson and ex officio member?
Q2.Under Section 3 of The Airports Authority of India Act, 1994, which of the following legally describes the nature of the Authority?
Q3.Under Section 3 of The Airports Authority of India Act, 1994, what specific work status is required for the Chairperson of the Authority?
Q4.Under Section 3 of The Airports Authority of India Act, 1994, who automatically gets a seat on the Authority as an ex officio member?