Celebi Row: Bombay HC halts Mumbai airport's final call on ground services bids till June
The Bombay High Court on Monday, May 26, temporarily restrained Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) from finalising tenders for ground and bridge handling services. The court ruled that the temporary halt will continue until Turkish firm Celebi's plea challenging the termination of its contract is heard when the court reopens in June.
This interim order was issued by a vacation bench of Justice Somasekhar Sundaresan. The court order bars MIAL from taking any final decision on tenders floated on May 17 for a new ground handling agency.
The revocation of security clearance of Celebi came amid backlash in India over Turkey's support to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor.
The company had moved the High Court last week against revocation of its security clearance and subsequent termination of its contract with MIAL. Celebi's plea was mentioned before Justice Sundaresan seeking urgent relief against any decision on the tenders issued by MIAL on May 17.
The court said no final decision shall be taken on the tenders till the pleas filed by Celebi are heard post reopening of the court in June. Turkiye-based airport ground handling services major Celebi's subsidiary had moved HC last week against revocation of its security clearance and subsequent termination of its contract with MIAL.
Three petitions were filed by Celebi Nas Airport Services India, which operated at the Mumbai airport, challenging the Centre's decision to revoke the security clearance and contract termination.
The pleas said the decisions were arbitrary and illegal and sought that they be set aside. Celebi holds 59 per cent capital of Celebi Nas Airport Services India Private Limited. The petition sought suspension and annulment of the administrative decision of security clearance cancellation granted by Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) under Ministry of Civil Aviation of India.
It also sought annulment of terminations of Bridge Mounted Equipment Service Agreement and the Concession Agreement, and Ground Handling Services by MIAL.
By way of interim relief, Celebi had sought HC to restrain MIAL from taking any final decision on the tenders issued on May 17 for the selection of a new ground handling agency for these services. Two other Celebi subsidiaries, namely Celebi Airport Services India and Celebi Delhi Cargo Terminal Management India, had earlier this month moved the Delhi High Court against the security clearance revocation and cancellation of contracts by the Delhi airport operator.
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