The Turkish company Celebi Airport Services India Pvt Ltd. on Friday moved Delhi High Court against the decision of aviation watchdog BCAS revoking its security clearance in the interest of national security. According to news agency PTI, the security clearance of the firm was revoked after Turkey backed Pakistan and condemned the strikes by India on terror camps in the neighbouring company.
According to the report, a lawyer associated with the case confirmed the filing, and the plea is likely to be listed next week.
Celebi has been operating in the Indian aviation sector for over 15 years now and employs over 10,000 people and offers its services at nine airports.
In an order, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) said, “…the security clearance in r/o Celebi Airport Services India Pvt Ltd is hereby revoked with immediate effect in the interest of national security.”
The company got the clearance in November 2022. Celebi handles around 58,000 flights and 540,000 tons of cargo annually in India, according to its website. It is present at Mumbai, Delhi, Cochin, Kannur, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Goa, Ahmedabad, and Chennai airports.
Earlier, Celebi said that it remains in full compliance with Indian aviation, national security, and tax regulations and operates with complete transparency. It rejected all allegations regarding the company’s ownership and operations in India and reaffirmed its long-standing commitment to the country’s aviation sector.
The Delhi airport operator DIAL has also said that it has formally ended its association with the Celebi entities responsible for ground handling and cargo operations at Indira Gandhi International Airport.
