Delhi High Court Hears Case on Revoked Security Clearance of Turkish Firm Celebi

The Delhi High Court is currently reviewing the case of Celebi, a Turkish airport ground handling company, whose security clearance was revoked by the Indian government due to national security concerns linked to rising tensions with Pakistan. The Solicitor General defended the government's decision, emphasizing the importance of security measures. Celebi has argued that the revocation has negatively impacted thousands of employees and claims it has no ties to the Turkish government. Meanwhile, the company is also pursuing legal action in the Bombay High Court regarding the termination of its agreements at Mumbai's airport. The outcome of these hearings could have significant implications for the firm and its operations in India.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 23, 2025, 11:57 IST

Government's Stance on Security Clearance Revocation

On Thursday, the Delhi High Court was informed by the Union government that the Turkish airport ground handling company Celebi could not be notified regarding the revocation of its security clearance due to national security issues, particularly in light of escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the government, stated to Justice Sachin Datta, "In matters of security, we either act or we do not act. It involves subjective judgment aimed at safeguarding the nation."

Celebi Airport Services India operates at multiple airports across India, including those in Delhi and Mumbai.

In response to public outcry over Turkish firms supplying arms to Pakistan, the Indian government suspended Celebi's security clearance on May 15, citing national security interests.

The company filed a challenge against this decision in the High Court on May 16.

During the court proceedings, Mehta emphasized that the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security is empowered by the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam to oversee civil aviation security matters, highlighting that the firm has access to sensitive airport and passenger information.

The case is set to be reviewed again on Friday.

In a previous hearing, the firm expressed that the government's decision has adversely affected over 10,000 employees in India.

Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Celebi, argued that the company has no affiliations with the Turkish government and has not encountered any issues with India.

Rohatgi contended that the government's actions were legally unjustified, asserting that the Aircraft Security Rules, 2023, require the company to be given a chance to present its case, and that exceptions cannot be arbitrarily created by the rule-maker.

Celebi's Legal Actions in Bombay High Court

In parallel, Çelebi Aviation Holding's Indian branch has also approached the Bombay High Court following the revocation of its security clearance, which led to the cancellation of its contracts at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.

In a regulatory announcement to the Turkish stock exchange Borsa Istanbul, Çelebi Aviation disclosed that its Indian subsidiary, Çelebi Nas, has initiated three legal proceedings in the Bombay High Court.

The first action is a writ petition seeking to suspend and annul the government's revocation of its security clearance, naming several government bodies as respondents, including the Union of India and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.