Centre defends move to privatise Chennai Airport management

The Civil Aviation Ministry today defended in the Madras High Court its move to privatise management of Chennai Airport saying it was aimed at ensuring international standards.
A counter-affidavit by Under Secretary Sunil Pant, on the petition by the Airports Authority Employees Union of Chennai Airport challenging the Airports Authority of India (AAI)'s move, contended that it was a policy decision by the government and hence the plea against it was not maintainable.
Only with an intention and sole motive to improve the Chennai airport on par with the international standards the Public Private Partnership (PPP) was entered into by AAI.

The court had on January 29 restrained the authorities from processing any further with regard to the RFQ (Request for Qualification) invited from private parties for the management of Chennai Airport.
The Ministry had prayed the court to modify the interim injunction order granted to the extent of permitting the Ministry to proceed with the tender process and grant liberty to file the counter.
The counter said several airports throughout the country including Benguluru, Mumbai, Delhi were already operating on PPP mode as a result of policy decision of the government.

It further said publication of RFQ was well within the ambit of AAI Act, 1994. The amendment Act 43 of 2003 clearly stipulates that there was need to improve the standard of services and facilities in the airports to bring it on par with the international standards.

Section 12A of the act empowers AAI to lease out airports in the public interest or in the interest of management and section 20 empowers to enter into contract necessary for discharge of its functions.
It also submitted that the RFQ was only preliminary and various other stages were left behind before concluding into a written contract.
Hence the counter said granting interim injunction caused great irreparable loss and hardship to a project being floated and implemented in public interest.
The union had submitted that service conditions of employees including the tenure, remuneration, superannuation benefits and other conditions were governed and protected by the AAI Act whereas the proposed move under the impugned RFQ will affect their future.

The petitioners alleged that the Authorities were obliged to discuss with their representatives all matters that affect the service conditions and future of employees which they have failed to do so.