The Authorities opposed the petitions filed by Turkish agency Celebi Airport Companies India Pvt Ltd and one other entity in Delhi Excessive Court docket on Monday, difficult Bureau of Civil Aviation Safety (BCAS)’s determination to withdraw their safety clearance. In the course of the listening to earlier than Justice Sachin Datta, Solicitor Common Tushar Mehta represented the Centre and claimed that the choice was taken contemplating nationwide safety issues primarily based on particular intelligence inputs.The aviation safety regulator BCAS cancelled the safety permits shortly after Turkey supported Pakistan and criticised India’s counter-terrorism operations within the adjoining nation.The businesses have been liable for managing floor dealing with operations and cargo terminal providers. “I’m saying that it’s a nationwide safety subject and the order (revoking clearance) displays the identical,” Mehta mentioned.Representing the businesses, Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi contested that the choice stemmed from “public notion”, which was not a sound justification. He added that the clearance was cancelled with out offering any rationalization or probability for illustration.“It seems to me that’s due to public notion due to the shareholding of the corporate of Turkish nationals,” Rohatgi mentioned.He identified that the petitioners had been working for 17 years, using 14,000 folks.Justice Datta questioned the courtroom’s authority to assessment such choices and whether or not prior notification was required underneath these circumstances. The subsequent listening to is scheduled for Might 21.This comes as the federal government final week withdrew safety authorisation for Celebi and its affiliated corporations, citing nationwide safety pursuits. This determination impacts Celebi’s floor dealing with providers, that are security-sensitive operations, throughout 9 key Indian airports: Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Goa, Cochin, and Kannur.Floor dealing with operations at these websites are managed by Celebi Airport Companies India Pvt Ltd (CASIPL) and two different related firms.“The Bureau of Civil Aviation Safety (BCAS) has revoked Celebi’s safety clearance on grounds associated to nationwide safety. Nothing is above the safety of our nation and our fellow residents. Nationwide curiosity and public security are paramount and non-negotiable,” mentioned Union civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu.The speedy implementation of this directive was interpreted as a sign from Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s authorities that nations seen as Pakistan’s supporters will encounter financial repercussions. The state of affairs developed after Pakistan allegedly utilised Turkish-manufactured drones throughout Operation Sindoor to strike Indian city centres, resulting in diplomatic tensions.Learn extra: Turkey-based Celebi Aviation strikes excessive courtroom over Centre’s ‘imprecise’ cause for revoking safety clearance