The central government has strongly defended its decision to revoke the security clearance of Celebi Airport Services Private Limited, citing national security as the primary concern. Appearing before the Delhi High Court on May 22, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued that Celebi’s operational access to sensitive airport zones—including VIP passenger data and cargo handling—posed potential security risks. He asserted that matters involving national security are governed by plenary powers, and standard procedures such as preemptive disclosures or hearings may not apply, as supported by Supreme Court rulings.
The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security withdrew Celebi’s security clearance on May 15, shortly after Turkey expressed support for Pakistan and criticized India’s military actions. The timing has drawn attention to potential diplomatic undercurrents. Celebi, which provides ground handling services at multiple major airports across India, has challenged the move in the Delhi and Bombay High Courts, calling the decision arbitrary and lacking in transparent justification. The company emphasized its Indian-led operations and history of regulatory compliance.
Despite the legal challenge, the government maintains that the action was based on sensitive intelligence inputs and taken to protect national and civil aviation security. The case underscores the delicate balance between national security imperatives and commercial operational rights in critical infrastructure sectors.