Latest news with #AircraftSecurityRules
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Delhi HC rejects Çelebi's plea against revoked security clearance
The Delhi High Court on Monday rejected a petition filed by Turkish ground handling company Çelebi Airport Services India against the Centre's decision to revoke its security clearance, reported Bar and Bench. Justice Sachin Datta, who reserved the verdict on May 23, refused to stay the Centre's actions. Çelebi, part of Turkiye-based Çelebi group, provides ground handling and cargo terminal services at nine airports in India. It has been active in the country's aviation sector for over 15 years and employs more than 10,000 personnel, reported news agency PTI. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) revoked the company's security clearance on May 15. The decision came shortly after diplomatic tensions escalated, following Turkey's criticism of India's retaliatory actions targeting terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. During court proceedings, the Centre defended the revocation, citing a significant risk to aviation security. 'Unprecedented' threats had prompted the decision, the government's counsel submitted. Çelebi's counsel, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, argued that the action was taken without adhering to due process. They said the Director General of BCAS should have issued a notice and allowed the company to be heard before taking such a step. The move, they said, was in violation of the principles of natural justice and the procedure outlined in the Aircraft Security Rules. "The notice has to say what is the proposed punishment based on the gravamen of facts. It is not a Carte Blanche. Record reasons in writing, not in your mind," he said, as quoted by Bar and Bench. The Centre, however, maintained that the clearance was withdrawn based on inputs suggesting that continued operations by the company posed a risk in the prevailing circumstances.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Delhi HC rejects Turkish firm's plea against revocation of security clearance
The Delhi High Court on Monday (July 7, 2025) rejected a plea by Turkiye-based Celebi, an operator at multiple airports across India, challenging the revocation of its security clearance. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Safety (BCAS) on May 15 revoked the security clearance of the firms just days after Turkiye backed Pakistan and condemned India's strikes on terror camps in the neighbouring country. Celebi had contended the Centre's move was against the principles of natural justice and in violation of the procedure under the Aircraft Security Rules. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, had defended the decision to revoke the security clearance of Turkiye-based firms without warning as it was 'dealing with a sui generis situation where there is a potential threat to the country's civil aviation security at various airports...'. Mr Mehta had stated that the firms were involved in ground and cargo handling, with access to aircraft and cargo screening at several airports, including those handling VIP movements — prompting authorities to exercise their 'plenary powers' under the relevant law to take action. Celebi had contended that is has been operating in India for the last 17 years. It said no opportunity was given to the firms before the security clearances were revoked.
NDTV
5 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
Turkish Firm Celebi's Plea Challenging Security Clearance Revocation Dismissed
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday rejected the petitions by Turkish firm Celebi against the revocation of its security clearance. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Safety (BCAS) on May 15 revoked Celebi's security clearance, days after Turkey supported Pakistan during Operation Sindoor and condemned India's strikes on terror camps in the neighbouring country. The Centre on May 19 said the decision was taken in the interest of national security in light of certain inputs that continuing the services of the petitioner companies would be hazardous in the current scenario. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the central authority, defended the action, pointing out an "unprecedented" threat to aviation security. Senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi, who represented Celebi, said the Centre's move was against the principles of natural justice and in violation of the procedure under the Aircraft Security Rules. He said the Director General of BCAS ought to have given the petitioners a hearing after giving notice of "proposed punishment" and subsequently given reasons for their action. Justice Sachin Datta on May 23 had reserved the verdict after hearing the submissions in the matter. Celebi Airport Services India Pvt Ltd and Celebi Delhi Cargo Terminal Management India Pvt Ltd oversee ground handling and cargo terminal functions at various airports in the country. Celebi operated in the Indian aviation sector for over 15 years and employed over 10,000 people. It offered its services at nine airports.
India Today
5 days ago
- Business
- India Today
Turkish aviation firm's plea against security clearance revocation dismissed
The Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed Turkish aviation firm Celebi Airport Services India Pvt Ltd's petition challenging the government's decision to revoke its security clearance on national security Sachin Datta dismissed the petitions filed by Celebi Airport Services India Pvt Ltd and Celebi Delhi Cargo Terminal Management India Pvt Ltd, which manage ground handling and cargo operations at several Indian airports. The verdict had been reserved on May aviation security regulator, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), had withdrawn Celebi's security clearance on May 15, citing national security interests. The decision came days after Turkey openly backed Pakistan and condemned India's strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir (POK), sparking widespread public outrage in India. Celebi, part of Turkey's Celebi group, has been operating in India's aviation sector for over 15 years and employs more than 10,000 people across nine airports. The security clearance now withdrawn had been granted as recently as November Central government's counsel defended the revocation, arguing there was an "unprecedented threat" to aviation security that justified immediate action. In an affidavit filed on May 19, the Centre said the clearance was withdrawn based on specific inputs that continuing Celebi's services would pose risks under the current for the company, Celebi's counsel argued that the government's move violated principles of natural justice and the procedure laid down under the Aircraft Security Rules. He contended that the Director General of BCAS should have issued a notice, provided an opportunity for a hearing, and recorded reasons before taking such an extreme government, however, maintained that the security clearance was revoked "with immediate effect in the interest of national security". The aviation ministry and junior aviation minister Murlidhar Mohol also defended the decision, citing public demands to ban Celebi due to Turkey's stance on the High Court's dismissal, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security's revocation order stands, directly impacting Celebi's operations in India. The detailed judgment will be uploaded shortly.- Ends
Mint
6 days ago
- Business
- Mint
Delhi HC likely to pronounce verdict on Monday on Turkish firms plea against revocation of security clearance
New Delhi, Jul 6 (PTI) The Delhi High Court is likely to pronounce on Monday its verdict on petitions by Turkey-based Celebi against the revocation of its security clearance. Bureau of Civil Aviation Safety (BCAS) on May 15 revoked the security clearance, days after Turkey backed Pakistan and condemned India's strikes on terror camps in the neighbouring country. Justice Sachin Datta on May 23 reserved the verdict after hearing the submissions in the matter. Celebi Airport Services India Pvt Ltd and Celebi Delhi Cargo Terminal Management India Pvt Ltd oversee ground handling and cargo terminal functions at various airports in the country. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the central authority, defended the action, pointing out an "unprecedented" threat to aviation security. Senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi, representing Celebi, contended on Friday that the Centre's move was against the principles of natural justice and in violation of the procedure under the Aircraft Security Rules. Rohatgi said the Director General of Bureau of Civil Aviation Security ought to have given the petitioners a hearing after giving notice of "proposed punishment" and subsequently given reasons for their action. On May 19, the Centre said the decision to revoke clearance was taken in the interest of national security in light of certain inputs that continuing the services of the petitioner companies would be hazardous in the current scenario. Celebi, operating in the Indian aviation sector for over 15 years and employing over 10,000 people, offers its services at nine airports. BCAS, in its order, said, "... the security clearance in r/o Celebi Airport Services India Pvt Ltd is hereby revoked with immediate effect in the interest of national security." The security clearance to the company, part of Turkey's Celebi, was given in November 2022.
