Kochi: The High Court on Monday dismissed petition seeking to stop Thiruvananthapuram airport operations handover to the Adanis. The petition submitted jointly by state government, KITC and others was turned down by a Bench comprising Justices K Vinod Chandran and TR Ravi.
In the case, the court acknowledged Centre’s argument that transferring airport operations to qualifying bidders was part of the governmental policy and one that was approved by the union cabinet. The centre said it was determined not to hand the airport operations to those high on their tender bid.
Kerala’s demand for airport rights on grounds that, that the state had acquired its land, cannot be legally sustained, the court ruled. Having first participated in the bidding process and then dubbing it wrong is unacceptable, the court said. Also, the government argument that profits at one airport cannot be deployed at another, does not sit right, the court observed. The court also dismissed state’s claim that the bidding process was framed exclusively for the Adanis.
