HC dumps Kerala govt plea against thiruvananthapuram airport lease to Adani Group
The state government had accused the Centre of showing undue preference in leasing out the airport to Adani Enterprises. The high court plea followed an all-party-meeting in Kerala demanding the withdrawal of the Union cabinet's decision on this front.
FollowKerala High Court has dismissed the petition of state government against the Centre's decision to lease out operation and development of the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport to the Adani group for 50 years.
The state government had accused the Centre of showing undue preference in leasing out the airport to Adani Enterprises. The high court plea followed an all-party-meeting in Kerala demanding the withdrawal of the Union cabinet's decision on this front.
In its writ petition, the government had contended that the attempt of the AAI to grant the right of operation, management, and development of the airport to Adani Enterprises Limited which has no previous experience in managing airports, was not in the public interest and violated the provisions of the Airports Authority of India Act as well as the proprietary right of the state government over the land where the airport was situated.
Thiruvananthapuram International Airport was among the six such facilities for which the Adani group had won the lease and maintenance bids for in February 2019.
Besides Thiruvananthapuram, Adani Group has also won the rights to run five other airports — Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Mangaluru and Guwahati.Â
Adani Group outbid eight other companies in the process, including GMR Airports, Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation, Cochin International Airport Ltd and Zurich Airport, to win the rights in February 2019.
The state government is likely to appeal against the verdict in the Supreme Court.
