Radha Soami Satsang Beas to Pay Usage Fee for Spiritual Visit Helicopter Landing
In a recent judgment, the Himachal Pradesh High Court has granted permission for the helicopter of the Patron-in-Chief of Radha Soami Satsang Beas (RSSB) to land on the playground of Lal Bahadur Shastri Government Degree College, Saraswati Nagar, Shimla. The decision came after an application was filed by RSSB seeking approval for the helicopter landing during a spiritual visit to Rohru and surrounding areas on May 13, 2026.
The court, comprising Chief Justice G.S. Sandhawalia and Justice Bipin C. Negi, reviewed the application and the circumstances surrounding it. The Principal of the college, as per the certificate submitted, raised no objections to the use of the playground for helicopter landing, citing that there would be no academic activities on the designated day as exams concluded on May 12, 2026.
The spiritual visit is anticipated to draw approximately 7,000 attendees to the RSSB Centre in Rohru, and the college playground was identified as the most suitable location for the helicopter landing. The court emphasized that no damage would be caused to the college property and acknowledged the absence of alternative landing sites.
The court ruled in favor of the application, stipulating a payment of Rs. 1,00,000/- as a usage fee to be deposited with the college's Principal. The funds are earmarked for the welfare of the educational institution. This decision aligns with considerations that the Patron-in-Chief would be visiting various locations, including Jammu and Kashmir, by helicopter.
Mr. Lalit Kumar Sehgal represented the applicant, while Mr. Arsh Rattan, Deputy Advocate General, represented the respondents. The application was disposed of following the court's approval, marking a significant event for the spiritual visit scheduled by RSSB.
Bottom Line:
Permission granted for helicopter landing on college playground for a spiritual visit, subject to payment of usage fee for welfare of the institution.
Statutory provision(s): Permission for Helicopter Landing.
Court on its own motion v. State of HP, (Himachal Pradesh)(DB) : Law Finder Doc id # 2898151
