Delhi HC Dismisses Turkish Firm Celebi Aviation's Plea Against Security Clearance Revocation
The Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed a plea of Turkey-based ground handling company Celebi, which challenged the Central Government's decision to revoke its security clearance over alleged national security concerns.
The government had revoked the security clearance for Turkish ground-handling firm Celebi Airport Services at the Indian airports, as calls grew to ban Turkish businesses in the wake of their country supporting Pakistan which harbours terrorism after Operation Sindoor. Celebi Airport Services India Pvt Ltd (CASIPL) called the move arbitrary and based on 'vague" national security concerns.
In its filing, Celebi argued that the order lacked any substantive reasoning and was issued without prior notice. 'Mere rhetoric of national security without elaborating upon in what manner is an entity a threat… is unsustainable in law," the company stated. Celebi warned that the decision would impact 3,791 jobs, investor confidence, and disrupt essential airport services.
The Turkish company handles around 70 per cent of the ground operations at Mumbai airport, including passenger services, load control, flight operations, cargo and postal services, warehouses and bridge operations.
Minister of State for Civil Aviation and Cooperation, Murlidhar Mohol, had said in a post on X that we have received requests from across India to ban Celebi NAS Airport Services India Ltd, a Turkish company operating ground handling services at Indian airports.
'Recognising the seriousness of the issue and the call to protect national interests, we have taken cognizance of these requests and Ministry of Civil Aviation has revoked security clearance of the said company. Ensuring the safety and interests of the nation remains our top priority," the minister posted.
Since its entry in 2008, Celebi has expanded its presence in India's aviation sector. As per reports, the firm is partly owned by Sumeyye Erdogan, daughter of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Sumeyye Erdogan is married to Selcuk Bayraktar, the man who produces Bayraktar military drones which Pakistan used against India.
(with inputs from agencies)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
28 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Apple names Indian-origin Sabih Khan as COO; here's all you need to know
Apple on Tuesday (local time) announced the appointment of Sabih Khan, an Indian-origin executive, as its new chief operating officer (COO). Khan, who has been with the iPhone maker for three decades, will succeed Jeff Williams, who is stepping down later this month and retiring later this year. Khan's elevation comes at a time when Apple is facing a series of challenges, including slowing iPhone growth and reciprocal tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump's administration. Khan's three-decade Apple journey and global role Currently serving as senior vice-president of operations, Khan oversees Apple's global supply chain, supplier responsibility programmes, and operations teams. Born in 1966 in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, Khan moved to Singapore during his school years before relocating to the United States. He earned a bachelor's degree in economics and mechanical engineering from Tufts University, followed by a master's in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). Before joining Apple's procurement team in 1995, Khan worked at GE Plastics as an applications development engineer and key account technical leader. At Apple, he has played a pivotal role in delivering innovative products and shaping the company's global operational strategy. Since 2019, he has led Apple's global supply chain, overseeing procurement, planning, manufacturing, logistics, product fulfilment, and supplier responsibility programmes aimed at protecting and educating workers worldwide. Praise from Tim Cook and Jeff Williams In a statement, Apple chief executive Tim Cook called Khan a 'brilliant strategist' and said, 'Sabih is one of the central architects of Apple's supply chain. While overseeing Apple's supply chain, he has helped pioneer new technologies in advanced manufacturing, overseen the expansion of Apple's manufacturing footprint in the United States, and helped ensure that Apple can be nimble in response to global challenges.' Cook added, 'He has advanced our ambitious efforts in environmental sustainability, helping reduce Apple's carbon footprint by more than 60 per cent. Above all, Sabih leads with his heart and his values, and I know he will make an exceptional chief operating officer.' Outgoing COO Jeff Williams also endorsed the move, stating: 'I've had the pleasure of working closely with Sabih for 27 years, and I think he's the most talented operations executive on the planet. I have tremendous confidence in Apple's future under his leadership in this role.' AI challenges and India shift on the horizon As COO, Khan will also navigate Apple's ongoing efforts to strengthen its artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. Bloomberg reported that Apple's top AI executive was recently poached by Meta, and the company continues to explore external partnerships to advance its AI technologies. The leadership change comes as Apple accelerates efforts to shift parts of its production from China to India, aiming to reduce its exposure to tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.
Mint
30 minutes ago
- Mint
Trump administration seeks to ban China from buying US farms
The Trump administration has a message for China: Keep off the farm. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said Tuesday the administration will work with state lawmakers to ban sales of U.S. farmland to buyers from China and other countries of concern, citing national-security interests. Rollins, joined by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, said the government is ratcheting up scrutiny on existing land owned by Chinese buyers and is looking at ways to potentially claw back past purchases. 'We'll never let foreign adversaries control our land," said Rollins. State and federal lawmakers for years have warned that China and other countries could use U.S. farmland to facilitate spying or wield influence over the U.S. food supply chain. Chinese-owned entities hold nearly 300,000 acres—roughly 0.02%—of U.S. farmland, according to Agriculture Department data, an area about the size of Los Angeles. Republicans and Democrats alike have sought to curb foreign ownership of American farmland, at times seeking to increase government scrutiny of purchases and investments. Critics have raised fears that foreign owners could drive up land prices or sidestep environmental rules. China's government has played down such concerns as overblown. Representatives of China's embassy in Washington, D.C., had no immediate comment. Rollins said on Tuesday that U.S. farms are under threat from China and other countries that are trying to infiltrate American agricultural research and steal technology. 'No longer can foreign adversaries assume we aren't watching," Hegseth said. Some state and municipal lawmakers have taken steps in recent years to block China-backed investment or ownership in U.S. agriculture. The city of Grand Forks, N.D., in 2023 halted the construction of a Chinese-owned corn mill after a U.S. Air Force official said the planned $700 million facility could represent a national-security risk because of its proximity to a nearby base. Some China-based ownership of U.S. farmland involves prominent U.S. agriculture companies. Pork giant Smithfield Foods and seed and pesticide supplier Syngenta have both faced criticism from government officials and lawmakers because of their Chinese owners. Smithfield is majority-owned by Chinese pork company WH Group and Syngenta is a subsidiary of China National Chemical. The companies' American leaders have pushed back, saying their China-based owners have helped them invest in U.S. farmers and create jobs. Smithfield in the past represented roughly half of the U.S. farmland owned by Chinese entities, via its Hong Kong-based parent. Much of that had been tied up in hundreds of company-owned hog farms and processing plants, according to federal data. WH Group acquired Smithfield in 2013, aiming to harness its technology and expertise to boost WH's operations in China. Smithfield returned to the U.S. public markets earlier this year, raising roughly $500 million after listing its shares on the Nasdaq Stock Market. WH Group owns about 93% of Smithfield's shares. 'We're an American company, American management team and made in America," Smithfield Chief Executive Shane Smith said in an interview earlier this year. Smithfield last year sold more than 40,000 acres of its U.S. farmland, leaving it with roughly 85,000 acres. Shares of Smithfield fell about 1% on Tuesday. Syngenta, the largest pesticide seller in the U.S., has said it owns a small amount of land for research, development and regulatory trials. The company, which employs about 4,000 people in the U.S., has previously faced calls to sell its farmland holdings. Two years ago, Arkansas ordered Syngenta to sell about 160 acres in the state, where it maintained an agricultural research facility with a few dozen employees. Syngenta at the time called the state's decision shortsighted. A Syngenta spokesman said Tuesday that the company is in the process of selling its remaining U.S. farmland and currently owns less than 1,000 acres in the country. Write to Patrick Thomas at
News18
30 minutes ago
- News18
Bharat Bandh Today: Are Banks Open Or Closed On July 9th For Nationwide Strike?
Last Updated: July 09, 2025, 07:07 IST The strike may disrupt several vital sectors, including: Banking and financial services Postal operations Industrial production and coal mining Regional transport systems Government offices and PSUs Workers from companies like NMDC and other government-run steel and mineral firms are also expected to participate. With the nationwide strike on the horizon, there has been confusion among people about whether banks will be open or not today across India. Knowing beforehand about the operability of the banks is very important, so you won't get disappointed. Are Banks Closed Today, July 09? There is no official holiday announcement from the banks for today, July 09. It means banks will resume their activities, but they may face interruptions. Is Stock Market Closed Today, July 09? No. The stock market exchanges including BSE and NSE will be opened tomorrow, July 09. There is no official announcement regarding the stock market holiday from exchanges. Trade Unions Supporting Bharat Bandh on July 9 Several major trade unions have announced their support for the Bharat Bandh scheduled on July 9. The participating organisations include: Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS) Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC) Trade Union Coordination Centre (TUCC) Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA) All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) Labour Progressive Federation (LPF) United Trade Union Congress (UTUC) Trade unions throughout India have declared a nationwide strike, pointing to government inaction regarding their concerns. Despite submitting a detailed 17-point demand charter to Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya last year, the unions are frustrated by the lack of productive discussion. 'The government has abandoned the country's welfare state status. It is favouring foreign and Indian corporations, as evidenced by its vigorous policy pursuit," stated the union forum. The unions' main grievances against the government include: * No Indian Labour Conference sessions for a decade * Implementation of four labour codes that reduce union influence and extend work hours * Increased focus on contract employment and privatisation efforts
