To,

Dr. Tabrez Ahmed,

Director.

School of Law,

University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun- 248007

Subject: Removal of Airport Economics as a mandatory subject

Respected Sir,

This is a collective petition from B.A. LL.B. (Batch A) – Semester VIII regarding removal of Airport
Economics as a mandatory subject. We would like to point out the following reasons for the request:

1. The disparity between the curriculum of our batch and the immediate junior’s batch is very wide,
as they are given a fair opportunity to choose their own subjects. It is to highlight that the said
junior’s had Airport Economics as an optional subject, whereas, our batch has been subjected to
the same on a mandatory basis which is arbitrary and against Article 14 of the Indian Constitution.
2. This particular subject has been a part of the B.A. LL.B. curriculum since 2015, and every year the
college delays the provision of a faculty due to which the Mid Semester Exams are always
postponed. The institution has not been able to allot a competent faculty for teaching the subject
in due time, which ideally should have been done since February. Due to the lack of faculty, we
must not be subjected to this ad-hoc atrocity.
3. It is to bring to your knowledge that according to Rule 5.2 of UGC Regulations, 2003; “the students
are given discretion by the university to choose the number of subjects according to his / her
requirements.” Rule 5.3 of UGC Regulations, 2003 states that “the university has to provide
thorough outline of the manner of implementation of the subject through lectures and tutorials.”
This is to highlight that the college has failed to provide the said outline of subjects to the students.
The classes did not take place as per the initial schedule, and later on, totally wiped off the
timetable, much to our surprise. The introduction of weekend classes come as a shock to us, after
already being burdened with 7 subjects, 6 of them 4 credit subjects.
4. This is to bring to your kind notice that we are currently overburdened with classes. We have
attached our timetable for your ready reference. Every day of the week, our classes start at 8:30
am, till 4:30 pm on 4 out of 5 days. On some days, we have 5 continuous classes without a break
to even eat food. As 4th years students, who have a lot on our plate beyond college academics, it
will be torturous on us, to not even give us a day’s break within all the classes that we already
attend.
5. The only time to self-study, or attend coaching classes is at the weekend, and considering the fact
that competitive exams for the next sessions start in November, it will be unreasonable to expect
us to not even have the weekend off to prepare for our careers, with respect to all the people not
undertaking college placements. As a collective group, it is a waste of our time.
6. According to the ICAO Manual on Airport Economics;
“In June 1986, the ICAO Air Transport Committee decided that a manual on airport economics
should be developed; consequently, the first edition of the Airport Economics Manual (Doc 9562)
was released in 1991. In April 2001, the Air Transport Committee decided that the Airport
 Economics Manual should be revised as a follow-up to the Conference on the Economics of Airports
and Air Navigation Services (ANSConf 2000). In view of developments that have taken place since
then, which were emphasized at the Conference on the Economics of Airports and Air Navigation
Services (CEANS 2008), the Air Transport Committee decided, in May 2009, that the Airport
Economics Manual should be revised and updated.
2. The objective of this manual is to provide practical guidance to States, airport managing and
operating entities, and designated charging and regulatory authorities, to assist in the efficient
management of airports and in implementing ICAO’s Policies on Charges for Airports and Air
Navigation Services (Doc 9082).”

The following excerpt has been reproduced to highlight the fact that we have already studied Air
and Space Law, as well as Aviation Law just in the previous semester, i.e. Semester VII wherein,
we have studied everything about ICAO, ATC, Airport Regulation, Air Navigation Services, etc. The
subject ‘Airport Economics’ automatically becomes a redundant subject for study.

In due consideration of the following problems, we would also like to suggest the following alternatives.

1. Removal of the subject

2. Shifting the subject to the next semester to lessen our burden this semester and classes to take
place in the weekdays ONLY or possibility of a more practical subject like Media Laws
3. Video recording the lectures for watching it as per our convenience

Hoping for a positive response.

Thanking you,

B.A. LL.B. (Section A)