India, Dec. 16 -- The stalemate over naming the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) after late farmer leader DB Patil has reached the Supreme Court even as a mass protest by project affected persons (PAPs) looms on the horizon.

On Saturday, the Prakashjhot Samajik Sanstha filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the top court challenging the Bombay High Court's refusal on November 4 to intervene in the matter, and alleging that the central government's delay in naming the airport was arbitrary, despite cabinet approval and legislative resolutions in 2022.

"We have sought the setting aside of the high court order and a direction to the union government to decide the proposal within a fixed timeframe, preferably two weeks," said Vikas...