According to the latest Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), Indian airspace is off-limits to any aircraft registered in Pakistan, as well as those operated, owned, or leased by Pakistani airlines or operators, including military flights.

This restriction applies across all Flight Information Regions—Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata—and is effective across all altitudes.

The directive is effective immediately from May 23 and will remain in place until further notice, with the possibility of extension beyond June 23, as noted in the NOTAM.

Notably, Pakistan also issued a similar NOTAM on Friday, restricting access to its airspace for Indian-registered aircraft, including military flights.

Previously, India had set restrictions from April 30 to May 23, during which no Pakistani aircraft were allowed into Indian airspace. This action followed Pakistan’s decision to close its airspace to Indian carriers, prompting a reciprocal measure from India.

The extension adheres to International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) rules, which limit such closures to one month at a time.

Prior to these actions, India had suspended the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), making its revival contingent on Pakistan ceasing support for cross-border terrorism. Additionally, India closed the Integrated Check Post at the Attari-Wagah border, issuing a deadline for Pakistani nationals who entered India with valid documentation to leave. All visas granted to Pakistani citizens have also been revoked, and travel under the SAARC visa exemption scheme is no longer permitted for Pakistanis.

Negi had taken on a role as General Manager (Electrical/Renewable Energy) at the Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited in June 2024. He was reported missing on March 10 and his body was found in the Bhakra Dam in Bilaspur on March 18. His wife claimed that senior HPPCL officials were harassing him.

Justice Ajay Mohan Goel highlighted concerns raised by the state’s Director General of Police (DGP) regarding the investigation’s integrity. In an affidavit dated May 19, the DGP noted serious misconduct by the SIT, particularly regarding the alleged tampering or destruction of a pen drive found on the deceased, which reportedly contained crucial evidence. He mentioned a lack of cooperation from the Shimla Superintendent of Police in obtaining necessary materials for his investigation and indicated that two SIT members had refused to show him Negi’s diaries. The DGP also raised questions about prior conversations involving ASI Pankaj and the pen drive’s recovery, especially given ASI Pankaj’s questionable history, which included prior involvement in an attempted murder case.

Conversely, the SIT formed under the Shimla Police’s supervision disputed the DGP’s authority to question their investigative processes. The High Court reviewed a report from Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Onkar Sharma, which detailed how Director (Electrical) Des Raj allegedly intimidated Negi and Deputy General Manager (Electrical) Manish Chaudhary regarding delays from contractor M/s Prozeal Private Limited on the Pekhubella Solar Power Project. The project’s delay was ultimately reduced from 45 days to 23 days after pressure was applied.

Senior Manager (Electrical) Rajnish Katoch reported to the ACS Home that Des Raj pressured Negi to inflate the revenue projections of the Pekhubella project for a legislative report. Another Senior Manager, Bipan Guleria, noted that Negi faced continuous pressure from Des Raj and Meena to issue a completion certificate for the project, enabling the release of 10% of the payment.

The ACS Home report also covered other irregularities related to the Pekhubella Power Project and land lease issues. The High Court criticized the government’s lack of action regarding the ACS Home’s findings, stating, “The manner in which the Government handled the ACS Home’s report raises significant concerns. When the Secretary (Power) requested a fact-finding inquiry from the Additional Chief Secretary (Home), the State should have addressed the findings impartially instead of defending the delinquent officers.”

The Court also noted that the SIT had not investigated the pressure exerted on Negi by the accused parties for unrelated reasons.

A bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh requested the Centre’s response and instructed the petitioner to provide a copy of the plea to Attorney General R. Venkataramani and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta.

The PIL, filed by Dr. K A Paul, an evangelist who appeared before the court, urged the government to create uniform central legislation that would either ban or rigorously regulate all forms of betting platforms.

Dr. Paul expressed deep concern about the growing prevalence of betting apps among the youth, stating, “I represent countless parents who have lost children in recent years. In Telangana alone, over 1,023 individuals have tragically taken their lives due to gambling-related issues.”

He noted that prominent cricketers, Bollywood actors, and social media influencers promote betting apps, leading young people into addiction and financial devastation. “The aggressive marketing strategies used by these celebrities mislead youth into gambling, rendering them financially vulnerable and addicted,” he argued. He also called for a ban on celebrity endorsements of such platforms.

In response, Justice Surya Kant remarked that societal issues cannot be fully resolved through legislation alone. “Just as we cannot prevent all acts of violence, a law cannot entirely deter individuals from engaging in betting or gambling,” the bench stated.

The petition highlights that unregulated betting platforms often serve as fronts for money laundering and black money transactions, breaching provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.

Dr. Paul presented alarming figures, noting that over 24 suicides in Telangana in the last 18 months are reportedly linked to gambling-related debts, with many similar cases occurring nationwide.

The petition urged the court to compel the government to take swift action, warning that thousands of families continue to suffer irreversible financial and emotional harm due to the unchecked rise of betting apps.