Latest news with #Çelebi
Scroll.in
5 days ago
- Business
- Scroll.in
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 subsidiary, Çelebi Nas, has initiated three legal cases before the Bombay High Court. The first is a writ petition asking the court to pause and cancel the Union government's revocation of its security clearance. The petition names as respondents the Union of India, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, the Airports Authority of India and the Regional Civil Aviation Office in Mumbai. The Union government revoked Çelebi' security clearance on May 15 in the backdrop of Ankara's support for Islamabad during heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, and amid reports that Pakistan used Turkish-made drones during the conflict. Before the order, Çelebi Aviation was operating at several Indian airports, including Delhi, Mumbai, Kochi, Kannur, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mopa (Goa), Ahmedabad, and Chennai, according to its website. The Delhi High Court is hearing a separate case filed by another subsidiary of the Turkish ground handling firm challenging a similar revocation of security clearance at the capital's Indira Gandhi International Airport.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Jolt to Çelebi could turn a big gain for this Indian firm that once had deep Turkish ties
Jolt to Çelebi could turn a big gain for this Indian firm that once had deep Turkish ties Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and GMR Group chairman G.M. Rao. GMR has had strong ties with Turkey; Collage by Sadhana Saxena Synopsis Of the three Çelebi businesses in India, the cargo unit minted the most amount of money. Now that the Indian government has cancelled the Turkish firm's security clearance to operate in India, its long-time partner GMR could only be happy with the development. By TARUN SHUKLA 8 Mins Read, May 26, 2025, 05:00 AM IST SHARE THIS NEWS Close Font Size Abc Small Small Abc Normal Normal Abc Large Close There's a photo from 2008 that few at GMR would forget: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and GMR Group chairman GM Rao standing on a dais in Istanbul, shaking hands as Rao nods along while Erdogan speaks. At the time, GMR — now the operator of Delhi, Hyderabad, and Goa airports at home, with global presence including in Greece, Indonesia, and the Philippines — had just struck a joint venture with a Turkish firm to develop Sabiha
Economic Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Economic Times
Jolt to Çelebi could be big gains for this Indian firm
Jolt to Çelebi could turn a big gain for this Indian firm that once had deep Turkish ties Of the three Çelebi businesses in India, the cargo unit minted the most amount of money. Now that the Indian government has cancelled the Turkish firm's security clearance to operate in India, its long-time partner GMR could only be happy with the development. What's slowing Indian IT's AI deals? The answer is hidden in just two words. Unlike traditional FONT SIZE SAVE PRINT COMMENT Refer & Earn
Mint
23-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
Delhi high court reserves order in Çelebi security revocation case
The Delhi high court on Friday reserved the order on a plea by Turkish ground and cargo handling firm Çelebi Airport Services Ltd. The Turkish company approached the Delhi high court last week, challenging the revocation of its security clearance by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS). The BCAS revoked the security clearance for Çelebi Airport Services, which provides ground handling services to nine major international airports, citing national security on 15 May. The order came after Turkey backed Pakistan following India's Operation Sindoor. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, arguing on behalf of Çelebi, said the current situation is a violation of natural justice. 'The Indian government should have provided some information about revoking security clearance to Çelebi before submitting information in a sealed envelope to the court.' Rohatgi told the court that the company should have been told about the accusations or served a show cause notice. 'We were given a two-line order and then business was shut,' he said. On Thursday, solicitor general Tushar Mehta, while making arguments for the government, told the court that the government had plenary power to avoid any potential threat to the country. He also told court that ground handling companies have access to the entire airport and aircraft, and the director general of BCAS has the power to eliminate any immediate threat. Countering this argument, Rohatgi told the single-judge bench, presided over by Justice Sachin Datta, that Çelebi has been working in India for the last 17 years. 'You are dealing with a party without blemish for 17 years. The business cannot come to an end overnight. I have a constitutional right to carry out business, that right can't be contained,' he said. He also said the company employs 10,000 people, and each individual gets a security pass. 'Nobody can enter the airport areas without the individual security pass,' he added. Justice Datta on Friday asked the Indian government and Celebi to file written submissions by 26 May, despite Mehta insisting that both file written submissions by 24 May. Çelebi refuted all allegations in a 15 May statement. 'Çelebi Aviation India unequivocally refutes all allegations circulating on social media regarding the company's ownership and operations in India. The company is 65% owned by international institutional investors from across Canada, US, UK, Singapore, UAE, and Western Europe.' 'Actera Partners II L.P., a Jersey-registered fund, holds 50% ownership in Çelebi Havacılık Holding A.Ş. The remaining 15% is held by Alpha Airport Services BV, a Dutch-registered entity.'
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Business Standard
21-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Not given an opportunity to be heard, Celebi tells Delhi High Court
Turkey-based Celebi Airport Services Private Limited on Wednesday opposed the Centre's move to submit the reasons for revoking its security clearance in a sealed cover before the court. Celebi told the Delhi High Court that it was neither given any notice nor an opportunity to be heard regarding the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security's (BCAS) decision to revoke its security clearance in the interest of national security. The Turkish ground-handling company cited Rule 12 of the Indian Aircraft (Security) Rules, 2023, which mandates a hearing before such action can be taken. 'Wherever such decisions are made, the principles of natural justice kick in. I wasn't even given notice, even though the rule says I have to be given one,' Celebi's lawyer told the High Court. The Centre is expected to present its arguments on Thursday (May 22). On Monday, the Centre opposed Celebi's arguments, stating that disclosing the reasons for revoking the security clearance would "prejudice national interest and the sovereignty and security of the country." Also Read: Security clearance can't hinge on public perception: Çelebi to HC Celebi also reiterated before the court that the Centre had violated the principles of natural justice by not following due process as outlined in Rule 12 of the Aircraft (Security) Rules. Rule 12 grants the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) the power to suspend or cancel security clearances and programmes, but subject to procedural safeguards. When asked by the court on Wednesday whether he was arguing that the company had an indefeasible right to know the contents of the sealed envelope submitted by the Centre, Celebi's lawyer responded that the company had a right to know the accusations against it. "If the problem is that these citizens are Turkish, we will replace. What more can I say?' he remarked. Celebi had earlier told the court that public perception cannot be grounds for revoking a security clearance. During Monday's hearing, the company stated it had received no reasons or opportunity to respond before the revocation. In its plea, Celebi argued that the Indian government's decision to revoke its security clearance was 'arbitrary and devoid of specific reasons.' The Ministry of Civil Aviation, acting through BCAS, revoked Celebi's clearance on May 15, 2025, citing national security concerns. The move comes amid mounting diplomatic tensions after Turkey publicly supported Pakistan during hostilities linked to Operation Sindoor. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Central government on Monday, said the decision to revoke the clearance was based on national security grounds under Rule 12 of the Aircraft (Security) Rules. The court asked the government to demonstrate the 'genuine apprehension' that warranted revoking a civil aviation licence without prior notice, underscoring the need for transparency even in cases involving national security. SG Mehta responded that the Ministry retained the exclusive right to revoke such licences without assigning reasons under specific circumstances.
