Latest news with #Çelebi
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Business Standard
07-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Delhi HC upholds Celebi security ban, cites national security threat
The Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed Turkey-based company Çelebi Airport Services Private Limited's plea challenging the Indian government's decision to revoke its security clearance. The court said that 'once national security considerations are found to exist, it was not for the Court to 'second guess' the same.' 'As per settled law, once national security considerations are found to exist, on the basis of which the security clearance has been cancelled/revoked, it is not for the Court to 'second guess' the same,' the order said. Justice Sachin Datta upheld the revocation of security clearance of the Turkey-based firm by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) in the interest of national security. On perusal of the relevant information, it transpires that there are compelling national security considerations involved, which impelled the Indian government to revoke the security clearance, the court said. The court further noted that impelling geopolitical considerations, impinging upon the safety of the country, were also involved. '…the executive wing and not the judicial wing has the knowledge of India's geopolitical relationships to assess if an action is in the interest of India's national security,' the order stated. There was a considerable body of judicial dicta to the effect that the State is well within its rights to take pre-emptive measures to protect and preserve national security, the single-judge bench of the High Court said. 'No doubt, the principles of natural justice are sacrosanct; however, it is a compelling constitutional truth that security of the realm is the precondition for enjoyment of all other rights. The State/respondents are indeed justified in taking prompt and definitive action so as to completely obviate the possibility of the country's civil aviation and national security being compromised,' the court said. In its petition to the Delhi High Court, Çelebi Airport Services had said that public perception cannot be grounds for revocation of security clearance. The ground-handling company also submitted that it had been given no reason or opportunity for a hearing. 'We have been carrying the operations for 17 years without blemish. Then we received a letter on May 15 cancelling the security clearance. We were given no reason and no opportunity for hearing. It is because of public perception that the shareholding of the company is of Turkish nationals. But public perception cannot be grounds (for revocation of security clearance). There are 14,000 employees working. The entire business goes for a toss,' Çelebi's lawyers had told the court. Çelebi had also 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 the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), withdrew Çelebi's clearance on 15 May 2025, invoking national security grounds. The move came amid mounting diplomatic tensions after Turkey supported Pakistan during hostilities involving Operation Sindoor. At least seven airports in the country cancelled the services of Çelebi and its subsidiaries. Çelebi challenged the contract cancellations before the High Courts of Madras, Bombay and Gujarat, besides challenging the security revocation before the Delhi High Court. While the pleas are pending in the Gujarat and Bombay High Courts, the Madras High Court had in June granted interim protection to Çelebi Ground Services Chennai under Section 9 (interim protection to parties) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. Background Çelebi, a wholly owned Indian subsidiary of Turkish parent company Çelebi Aviation Holding, argued that the government's order lacked any prior notice or opportunity to respond. The company described the justification as 'vague' and 'unsubstantiated,' asserting that such actions jeopardise foreign investor confidence and threaten the livelihoods of Indian employees. The company also clarified that while it has Turkish ownership, operational and managerial control of its Indian entity is handled by an India-based team, and that it has maintained a clean track record for over a decade at major airports. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Central government, expressed national security concerns over the firm's presence, and said, 'The enemy can try 10 times and succeed once; a country has to succeed all the time.' 'In cases of civil aviation and national security, there cannot be a doctrine of proportionality,' he added. He also submitted that the individuals employed by the company in question, who are deployed at airports, have access to every corner of the airport as well as the aircraft. 'The government had inputs that it would be hazardous in this scenario, in which the country is in, to leave this activity in the hands of this company,' he said. Mehta maintained that the revocation was rooted in concerns over national security under the Aircraft Security Rules, particularly Rule 12. Rule 12 of the Indian Aircraft (Security) Rules, 2023, grants the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) the power to suspend or cancel security clearances and security programmes. Following the revocation of clearance, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) also terminated its contracts with Çelebi, and in Mumbai, Indothai, a domestic operator, was brought in to take over the firm's ground-handling services.
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Business Standard
07-07-2025
- 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.
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Business Standard
09-06-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Madras HC allows AAI to float tender to replace Çelebi, but with riders
The Madras High Court has allowed the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to proceed with a public tender to seek a replacement for Turkish ground and cargo handling firm Çelebi's Indian subsidiary, whose security clearance was cancelled by the central government last month. During a hearing on Monday, AAI informed the Madras HC that though it will have to float a tender to hire a new ground handling and cargo operator, the tender will mention that the outcome of the bidding will be subject to the litigation initiated by Çelebi Airport Services India at the Madras and Delhi High Courts. The AAI also gave an undertaking that the equipment left behind by Çelebi will not be used by the other ground operators. The Chennai airport needs at least three ground handling and cargo management firms, the AAI said. In May, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) revoked the security clearance of Istanbul-headquartered ground handling firm Çelebi Airport Services India, citing concerns over national security. Çelebi, which employed more than 10,000 people in India, used to provide ground services at nine major airports across the country. The people employed by Çelebi have since been absorbed into the operations of other ground and cargo handling companies operating at these airports. In a statement issued then, Çelebi had 'unequivocally' refuted the 'misleading and factually incorrect allegations' concerning its ownership and operations in India. The company had then said that Çelebi Aviation India was 65 per cent owned by international institutional investors based in Canada, the US, the UK, Singapore, the UAE, and Western Europe. The remaining 35 per cent, the company had then said, was held by the founding Çelebioğlu family in Turkey, with equal shares held by Can Çelebioğlu and Canan Çelebioğlu. It had also emphasised that neither Can nor Canan has any 'political affiliations or associations' of any kind.
Business Standard
09-06-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
AAI seeks new handler at Chennai airport amid ongoing Çelebi's legal battle
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) informed the Madras High Court on Monday that it must appoint a new ground handling and cargo operator for Chennai International Airport, following the termination of Turkish firm Çelebi Airport Services India's contract over national security concerns. Appearing before Justice Abdul Quddhose, Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta said the airport requires a minimum of three ground handlers to maintain uninterrupted operations. With Çelebi's removal, the AAI is compelled to initiate a fresh tendering process to fill the operational gap, according to a report by Bar and Bench. However, the AAI clarified that any new appointment would be provisional and subject to the outcome of ongoing legal proceedings initiated by Çelebi in both the Madras and Delhi High Courts. The Turkish company is contesting the cancellation of its contracts at various Indian airports, as well as the underlying reason — the withdrawal of its security clearance by India's Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS). Çelebi contract terminated over security concerns The BCAS revoked Çelebi's clearance following geopolitical tensions, after Turkey expressed support for Pakistan during a recent four-day conflict with India. Çelebi has challenged this decision in multiple courts, including those in Bombay and Gujarat. HC allows AAI to proceed with new appointment The Madras High Court allowed the AAI to proceed with appointing a new ground handler, but only on a provisional basis, subject to the outcome of ongoing legal proceedings. The court permitted Çelebi to request an official inventory of its assets from the AAI. The court also ruled that either party could return to court if any of the undertakings, such as not using Çelebi's equipment or software, were violated. In addition to the ongoing proceedings in Chennai, Çelebi has filed a writ petition specifically challenging the revocation of its security clearance. The matter is listed for hearing on June 24. A parallel case related to the company's role at Delhi International Airport is under consideration by the Delhi High Court, where judgment has been reserved. The Madras High Court will resume hearing the original application concerning the Chennai airport contract on July 7.
Time of India
08-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
BMC's 4,000cr waste collection tender bars fgn companies, JVs
Mumbai: In the wake of the row over Turkish-origin robotic life buoys that were to be deployed at six city beaches and the political backlash from BJP and Shiv Sena (UBT) over Turkiye's support for Pakistan, BMC's Rs 4,000-crore waste collection and transport tender has barred joint ventures with foreign firms, reports Richa Pinto. Last month, BMC, after almost 15 years, floated the tender to replace 1,000 waste collection vehicles. It also plans to phase out community waste bins over the next 3 years. While civic officials denied political backlash had led to barring of foreign firms, a BMC document accessed by TOI says, "International companies cannot bid directly or through their subsidiaries or in JV." Recently, a pre-bid meet was held for the tender where there were discussions on the Çelebi case. BMC's Rs 4,000-crore waste collection and transport tender, which was floated last month, has barred joint ventures with foreign firms. When contacted, additional municipal commissioner Ashwini Joshi, in charge of the solid waste management department, said it being a labour-intensive work, wherein a large quantum of labourers is required, it has been decided not to allow foreign firms. "Also, as it is a seven-year work, we want to ensure that labourers are available throughout the project period," she said. But recently, a pre-bid meet was held for the tender where there were discussions on the Çelebi case. "The recent challenges being faced in Turkish company Celebi's case is a classic example which teaches that essential public services should not be made open to international firms," states BMC's pre-bid document. Centre has revoked the security clearance of Celebi and its associated companies at airports citing national security concerns. BMC's tender follows a service-based model, where a single agency will manage both wa-ste collection and transport us-ing high-capacity, colour-coded vehicles, 10–15% of which will be electric. Currently, contracts are of two types: service-based, where the contractor owns the collection system; and hiring-based, where vehicles are provided by the contractor and the infrastructure is BMC-owned. Managing multiple systems has posed coordination challenges, said BMC, adding that service-based contracts are estimated to be 25% more cost-effective than hiring-based ones. Hence, service-based contracts are being proposed across all wards except L (Kurla), M-East (Govandi), and M-West (Chembur), all of which are areas closer to Kanjurmarg and Deonar dumping grounds. There are also plans to phase out community bins, which officials said would be done over a period of time through education and awareness activities, which are also part of the contract.
