HC allows Badra Intl to commence operation in Chennai, Kolkata

Madras High Court today allowed private sector firm Badra International to commence its operation in ground handling services in Chennai and Kolkata airports.
Dismissing a PIL, a Division Bench comprising Justices Elipe Dharma Rao and Aruna Jagadeesan noted that the Federation of Indian Airlines and other airline carriers had filed a similar petition in Delhi High Court and the same was dismissed.
A PIL filed by Oveyam Ranjan and Indian Airports Ground Handling Agents Association, Bangalore, sought to quash an Airports Authority of India (AAI) order of September 9, 2009, awarding license to provide ground handling services in Chennai and Kolkata airports.

They also sought to direct the CBI to hold an inquiry into the issuance of tender for providing comprehensive ground handling services to various domestic and international airlines in both airports and file a report within a timeframe.
The tender was awarded in favour of Badra International (India) Limited.
The petitioners contended that eligibility conditions of the tender were altered to suit Badra International, a joint venture consortium partnering along with Novia International Consulting APS of Denmark. AAI, authorities of Chennai and Kolkata airports denied the allegations.

Dismissing their petitions, the bench said the present petitioners have filed the petition as a PIL and stated that no similar petitions are filed in any other High Courts at the same time.

The bench said that the writ petitions have been filed, since they "found the weakness in the case before the Delhi High Court, the interested persons have prompted a third party/ the petitioners to file the present writ petition as a PIL that too in the eleventh hour."
These petitions were filed "undoubtedly with an ill intention of preventing Badra International to commence its operation," they said.