Turkish firm Çelebi gets interim relief as HC bars Mumbai airport from finalising replacement

The Bombay High Court on Monday granted interim relief to Turkish firm Çelebi Aviation by restraining Mumbai International Airport Limited from finalising a replacement ground and bridge handling services company until the court hears Çelebi’s challenge to the revocation of its security clearance, Bar and Bench reported.

The court’s vacation bench of Justice Somasekhar Sundaresan said its order will remain in place until a regular bench of the High Court hears the matter after summer vacations in June.

Çelebi Aviation Holding’s Indian subsidiary had moved the High Court after the Union government revoked its security clearance, because of which its agreements at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport were terminated.

The company’s advocate said the “sudden” revocation had negatively impacted the employment of nearly 2,088 staff members who have been trained for nearly 10 years, Live Law reported.

“The immediate revocation and subsequent termination by MIAL has put Çelebi in a position where it cannot even approach a court for a remedy,” the lawyer said. “Ordinarily, we would have been eligible for a 30 days notice prior to the termination of contract by MIAL.”

The airport authority rejected this contention, arguing it was acting in compliance with government orders in view of national security.

In a regulatory filing to the Turkish stock exchange Borsa Istanbul, Çelebi Aviation said its Indian...

Read more