NEW DELHI: Turkiye-based Celebi Airport Services Pvt Ltd submitted before Delhi HC Wednesday that Bureau of Civil Aviation Security withdrew the firm’s security clearance without any prior notice or opportunity for a hearing, thereby disregarding the regulations governing the sector as well as the principles of natural justice.The company also insisted that its workforce was Indian, and offered to replace Turkish staff, if that was a concern.Govt had revoked the security clearance of Celebi, which handles operations at nine major airports in India, citing concerns over national security following Turkiye’s support to Pakistan during Op Sindoor.Citing the Aircraft (Security) Rules-2023, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, who appeared for Celebi, argued before a bench of Justice Sachin Dutta that granting a hearing is a statutory requirement. Govt is not entitled to create exceptions to the rules it has made, he said.According to rule 12 of the Aircraft (Security) Rules, govt can suspend a company’s security clearance for up to one year or cancel it entirely, after providing a hearing opportunity and documenting the reasons. This applies when national security or civil aviation security and interests are at risk, or when entities fail to comply with the security clearance conditions, programmes or rules.“You have to have reasons. Reasons to be recorded in writing rules out subjectivity,” Rohatgi said, seeking transparency on Centre’s decision.Cebelbi objected to govt submitting the grounds for revocation of clearance in a sealed envelope to the court. Centre Monday had said revealing the reasons could harm national interests. Centre will present its arguments Thursday.
