The Delhi High Court on Monday heard plea filed by Turkish ground handling and cargo operator Çelebi Airport Services India challenging the Indian government’s decision to revoke its security clearance.
Justice Sachin Datta will continue hearing the case on Wednesday.
Appearing for the Central government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta expressed national security concerns over the firm, stating,
“The enemy can try 10 times and succeed once, country has to succeed all the time.”
The Court said in reply,
“The rule is better safe than sorry.”
During the course of the hearing, Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, who appeared for Çelebi’ said,
“Public perception cannot be used to take away employment. We are not a rogue company.”
Rohatgi highlighted that the company has been operating in India for 17 years without incident, and that no notice was given before the revocation of its security clearance.
Justice Datta, however, noted the sensitivity of the issue.
“Notice could be counterproductive. That you may do something inimical to national security the moment notice is given to you,” he observed.
“There are two categories of contracts—airport handling and cargo handling. These are extremely sensitive operations where personnel know every nook and cranny of the airport,” the SG argued.
He maintained that the government has received inputs on which the government finds that it would be hazardous to leave this activity in the hands of this company.
The revocation was rooted in concerns over national security under the Aircraft Security Rules, particularly Rule 12, which permits cancellation of licence where there is a potential threat.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation, acting through the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), withdrew Çelebi’s clearance on May 15, 2025, invoking national security grounds.
The move comes amid escalating diplomatic tensions, following Turkey’s support for Pakistan during recent hostilities involving Operation Sindoor.
This prompted Celebi to move the Court contending that the Indian government’s decision is “arbitrary and devoid of specific reasons”.
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 over 3,800 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.