“We Are an Indian Company”: Celebi Aviation Challenges Security Clearance Revocation in Delhi High Court

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"We Are an Indian Company": Celebi Aviation Challenges Security Clearance Revocation in Delhi High Court

Celebi Aviation Services India Pvt Ltd, the Indian arm of Turkey-linked ground handling company Celebi, has told the Delhi High Court that the government’s decision to revoke its security clearance was arbitrary, lacked due process, and jeopardises its airport contracts across the country.

Appearing before Justice Sachin Datta on Wednesday, Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Celebi, argued that the company is fully compliant with Indian laws and is being unfairly targeted. “We are an Indian company. Our employees are Indian,” he said, stressing that the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) failed to issue notice or share evidence before its May 15 decision.

The action, based on “national security” concerns, came weeks after Turkey issued statements critical of India’s military operations and sided publicly with Pakistan. While speculation mounted about political motivations, Rohatgi kept his arguments confined to legal grounds and procedural lapses.

Rohatgi told the court that Celebi has operated in India for 17 years without any infractions. “This is a matter of grave importance. My contracts with airport operators are being cancelled,” he told the bench.

He pointed to Rule 12 of the Aircraft Security Rules, which requires the authorities to provide a hearing before revoking security clearance. “There has been a complete violation of natural justice. I wasn’t even given a notice,” Rohatgi argued, adding, “If I had known about the accusation, some solution could have been found. If the problem is that some of the people are from Turkey, I’ll replace those people.”

Rohatgi also referenced past legal judgments, noting that older interpretations based on the 1937 Aircraft Rules no longer apply after significant amendments in 2011. The current framework, he insisted, must be interpreted in light of newer laws that emphasize fair hearing.

The bench questioned whether courts can compel authorities to share sensitive documents. Rohatgi responded by highlighting that even in cases involving national security, a basic understanding of allegations is a legal right.

Celebi, one of India’s largest airport ground handling providers, is a subsidiary of a Turkish firm. The BCAS order came shortly after diplomatic friction between India and Turkey, raising concerns in business and legal circles about the implications for foreign-linked firms.

The case has drawn attention not only for its legal implications but also for the broader message it could send to foreign investors and multinational firms operating in India amid rising geopolitical sensitivities.

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