AERA's appeal against TDSAT order over levying of tariff maintainable: SC

The Supreme Court on Friday held the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA), which regulates the aeronautical charges, can file an appeal against the orders of Telecommunications Dispute Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT). A bench comprising Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud and Justice J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said the appeals filed by AERA against a TDSAT order, which held that the authority cannot impose tariffs on ground and cargo handling services, were maintainable. AERA, the top court said, has a statutory duty to regulate tariff upon a consideration of multiple factors to ensure that airports were run in an economically viable manner without compromising on the interests of the public. "When AERA determines the tariff for aeronautical services in terms of Section 13(1)(a) of the AERA Act, it is acting as a regulator and an interested party. It is interested not in a personal capacity. Its interest lies in ensuring that the concerns of public interest.