Latest news with #VikramNankani
Time of India
23-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
HC lifts stay, MIAL can pick Turkiye co arm's replacement
Mumbai: In a relief for Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL), Bombay HC on Wednesday lifted its interim stay on finalising tenders to replace an Indian subsidiary of Celebi, a Turkiye-based airport ground handling services major. Citing national security concerns, Bureau of Civil Aviation Safety (BCAS) had in May revoked Celebi's clearance amid backlash over Turkiye's support for Pakistan during hostilities. The firm moved HC seeking suspension and annulment of the security clearance's cancellation. A similar plea was moved in Delhi HC, which ruled against the firm. In May, HC restrained Adani-led MIAL from making a final decision on bids invited that month to replace Celebi's Indian arm for ground and bridge handling services. The relief continued till Wednesday. The lifting of the stay has paved the way for MIAL to proceed with finalising new ground service handlers. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai After hearing senior counsel Vikram Nankani for MIAL and Chetan Kapadia for Celebi, HC observed that with Delhi HC upholding the revocation, preventing MIAL from finalising Celebi's replacement would no longer be tenable. The firm worked for nearly a decade and said its equipment was on the ground. Justice Somasekhar Sundaresan dismissed Celebi's arbitration plea and said claims, if any, can be pursued separately. The firm filed two petitions for two contracts to also challenge the consequential termination. The revocation order meant airlines that had given ground handling contracts to Celebi would face flight delays. Ground handling companies carry out security-sensitive jobs like loading and unloading of bags, cargo, cleaning aircraft, fuelling and passenger check-in. Govt worked with airport operators and appointed ground handling companies on an interim basis. At Mumbai airport, for instance, Indo Thai Airport Services—a certified ground handler operating at nine airports across India —was appointed within 24 hours of the BCAS order.
Indian Express
15-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Bombay HC dismisses appeals against eviction from Air India Colony, stays order by 6 weeks
The Bombay High Court on Tuesday dismissed appeals filed by staff members residing at Air India Colony at Kalina, Santacruz, challenging eviction order. On request by appellants, the HC stayed operation of its verdict for six weeks to enable them to approach the Supreme Court to challenge the same. The colony, spread over 184 acres, houses 350 families employed with the airline who are against the handover. As part of its expansion plan, the Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL), controlled by Adani Airport Holdings Limited, initiated the demolition of 19 vacant buildings at the Air India Colony amid protests by Air India employees. In February 2024, the HC rejected a plea by Air India Staff Colony Association, which alleged that the demolition action was illegal. The land on which the colony was built was owned by the state government and was leased to the Airports Authority of India (AAI), which had given the land to Air India. A single-judge bench of Justice Sharmila U Deshmukh passed a verdict on group of pleas challenging the August 26, 2024, final order of eviction officer appointed under section 28B of AAI Act, 1984, that ordered handing over of the possession of respective flats situated in the Air India Housing Colony in Kalina area. The eviction officer had passed the decision on MIAL's application seeking initiation of eviction proceedings against the respondent employees of Air India Limited as unauthorised occupant of airport premises. The said decision noted that Air India employees did not have the right, title and interest in the building, the employees had no right to continue to occupy the premises, therefore they were required to be evicted. In September 2024, senior advocate Vikram Nankani for MIAL made a statement that pending disposal of appeals, the eviction orders will not be implemented except in case of retired employees. Senior advocate Mihir Desai for the appellants argued that their leave and licence agreements were not yet terminated as per law. He added that as the subject area was not airport premises, it did not fall under the said category of AAI Act. However, Nankani for MIAL denied the appellants' claims. Justice Deshmukh held that the lands on which housing colonies are located are owned by AAI and constitute airport premises under the AAI Act. The HC further noted that the lease hold rights in the colony lands were transferred to MIAL on disinvestment of Air India Ltd. 'As the housing colonies constructed on the airport land yield to the lessor on disinvestment, the same constitutes airport premises. In any event, Air India Asset Holding Company Limited (AIAHCL) has handed over the possession of the housing colonies to MIAL,' the bench added. The judge further noted that 'the housing accommodation facility advanced by Air India Ltd to its employees stood withdrawn and leave and license stood terminated' and the time was given by HC to vacate the premises by September 24, 2022. 'No right in the housing colonies lands or the housing colonies remained with Air India Ltd upon disinvestment and no such right can be claimed by its employees,' the bench said. The court further stated that as the subject lands and housing colonies form airport premises, the AAI Act will be applicable to them instead of Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act.
