Blow to GMR: Singapore SC rules in favour of Maldives

The Court's ruling left GMR with no room for manoeuvring and Maldivian government officials in Male said a deal has been worked out with GMR for the handing over of the airport.

"Singapore Court of Appeal (the Supreme Court) has passed judgement that the Maldives Government has the authority to take back the airport," Maldives President Mohamed Waheed's Press Secretary Masood Imad told PTI, adding that his government will go ahead with the transfer as scheduled.

"There was a final meeting held today with GMR officials including their CEO and our Acting Transport Minister and two other Ministers. They have agreed for smooth transfer tomorrow itself. A Transition Management Committee will be formed tomorrow for the same which will include representatives from GMR and Maldives Airport Limited Company," Imad said.

Despite repeated attempts for a reaction on the agreement for transfer, no GMR spokesperson was available for comments.

Reacting to the Court verdict, official spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs Syed Akbaruddin said in New Delhi that MEA as well as the Indian High Commission in Male is studying the judgement and their lawyers need to understand it.

Pointing out that there are two issues in the case--one sovereign right of a nation and other legality of the agreement, which was linked to compensation to GMR and its associates in Malaysia, he said the latter part has not been "affected or responded" in today's judgement.

"These issues are not affected with judgement or not responded to...Fulfilment of all legal process and requirement is what we want to see in this case and we hope that all relevant contracts and agreements would be adhered to and all legal process are carried through," he said.

On November 27, Maldives unilaterally terminated the over USD 500 million contract awarded to GMR during the previous regime of Mohamed Nasheed to upgrade its Male airport and to build a new terminal. MORE