The Bombay High Court on Thursday allowed Turkiye-based ground handling major Celebi to withdraw its petition challenging the revocation of its airport security clearance by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), a fallout of the diplomatic row triggered by Operation Sindoor.
A division bench of Justices B.P. Colabawalla and Firdosh Pooniwalla permitted the withdrawal after Celebi’s counsel, Chetan Kapadia, submitted that the firm did not wish to press its plea. The petition had sought suspension and annulment of the BCAS decision that cancelled the company’s security clearance granted under the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
The Bombay High Court had repeatedly deferred hearing Celebi’s petition while awaiting the outcome of an identical matter before the Delhi High Court. Last month, the Delhi High Court dismissed a writ petition filed by another Celebi subsidiary against the cancellation of its security clearance, weakening the Turkish company’s position.
In July, the Delhi High Court rejected Celebi’s plea against termination of its contract at the Delhi airport and upheld the BCAS order citing national security concerns.
The Bombay High Court had earlier granted temporary relief to Celebi by restraining Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) from finalising tenders for ground and bridge handling services. However, this interim order was vacated last month, with a single judge observing that it could not continue in light of the Delhi High Court’s ruling.
Celebi Airport Services India, in which the Turkish parent holds 59 per cent stake through Celebi Nas Airport Services India Private Limited, lost its security clearance in May after the BCAS invoked national security grounds. The action followed heightened tensions after Turkiye’s vocal support to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, prompting Indian authorities to review foreign-linked entities in sensitive sectors.
