Turkish Aviation Firm Celebi Moves Delhi HC After India Cancels Security Clearance Over ‘National Security’
Turkish aviation firm Celebi has approached the Delhi High Court challenging the Indian government’s decision to revoke its security clearance, calling the move vague and damaging to business and jobs.
Celebi Airport Services India, a key ground handling operator at major Indian airports, filed a petition on Friday seeking to overturn the Centre’s sudden cancellation of its security clearance. The firm contended that the order lacked specific reasoning and posed a serious threat to employment and investor confidence.
The government had revoked the clearance citing “national security” concerns, a decision that came shortly after Turkey publicly sided with Pakistan during the recent India-Pakistan standoff following Operation Sindoor.
> “Mere rhetoric of national security without elaborating upon in what manner is an entity a threat to national security is unsustainable in law,” Celebi said in its plea, as reported by Reuters.
Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol confirmed the decision via X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, stating that public appeals were considered in the move.
> “Recognising the seriousness of the issue and the call to protect national interests, we have taken cognizance of these requests,” Mohol wrote.
The decision follows protests by the Shiv Sena in Mumbai demanding Celebi’s removal from ground operations at Mumbai airport. The party, an NDA ally, argued that companies linked to nations unfriendly to India should not operate in sensitive sectors like aviation.
Hours after the revocation order, Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) announced it had officially terminated its association with Celebi for both ground handling and cargo services. Celebi operated at airports in New Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Goa and Kerala.
The company said it had previously cleared security and intelligence vetting processes in India, and maintained that majority ownership lies with entities not of Turkish origin.
The action against Celebi comes amid escalating India-Pakistan tensions following Operation Sindoor, in which New Delhi claimed to have pre-emptively neutralised cross-border terror threats. Turkey’s diplomatic support for Pakistan during this period has drawn criticism from Indian political circles.
The Indian government’s move to sever ties with Celebi signals a growing focus on economic disengagement from entities linked to nations seen as unfriendly or adversarial.
The Delhi High Court is expected to hear Celebi’s plea in the coming days. The outcome could have broader implications for foreign firms operating in India amid rising geopolitical sensitivities.
