Turkey-Based Celebi Subsidiary Moves Bombay High Court Against Termination Of Contract By Mumbai Airport

In a development to the ongoing legal spat between Turkey-based airport ground handling services major Celebi and Indian authorities, the former has moved the Bombay High Court challenging the termination of its contract with the Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) and also the revocation of its security clearance.

Celebi Nas Airport Services India (a subsidiary of Celebi), which operates at the Mumbai airport has filed three petitions - two arbitration petitions and a writ petition, challenging the Centre's decision to revoke the security clearance and contract termination by the MIAL. 

As per the HC website, the two arbitration petitions pertaining to the contract termination by the MIAL will soon be listed before a single-judge bench while the writ petition challenging the revocation of security clearance will be heard by a division bench.

In its petitions, Celebi has claimed that the decisions against it were arbitrary and illegal and therefore has urged the court to set aside the same.

Notably, India's aviation security regulator - Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) under the Ministry of Civil Aviation of India had last week revoked the security clearance of Celebi Airport Services India of Celebi, citing grounds related to 'national security' with immediate effect. This action was on the heels of the ongoing tension between India and Pakistan and Turkey's support to Pakistan.

The revocation on Celebi's security clearance applies to all of its associate entities in India which resulted in several airports including the Delhi and Mumbai International Airports terminating services of the Indian subsidiaries of Celebi.

In its plea in Bombay HC, the Celebi Nas Airport Services, India has sought suspension and annulment of the administrative decision of security clearance cancellation taken by the BCAS. It also seeks annulment of the terminations of the Bridge Mounted Equipment Service Agreement and the Concession Agreement and Ground Handling Services by MIAL.

As an interim relief, a directive is sought against MIAL from taking any final decision or selection a new ground handling agency to replace Celebi Nas Airport Services. 

It would not be out of place to mention that two other subsidiaries of Celebi - Celebi Airport Services India and Celebi Delhi Cargo Terminal Management India have petitioned the Delhi High Court against the security clearance revocation and cancellation of contracts by the Delhi airport operator.