Nagpur: The Supreme Court has agreed to reexamine a petition filed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) against the GMR Group concerning the operational management of Nagpur’s Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport. This decision came on Friday, with a special bench of four judges, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, deeming the case worthy of a comprehensive review.
The AAI’s petition seeks to challenge a previous ruling by the Bombay High Court, which upheld GMR’s right to operate the airport. The heart of the matter revolves around the Nagpur Multimodal International Hub Airport (MIHAN) project, aimed at transforming the airport into a crucial air cargo and passenger hub. GMR initially secured the operational rights but faced concerns regarding revenue-sharing arrangements and the project’s financial viability.
During the hearing, the union government emphasized its role in airport affairs and argued that it had been unjustly excluded from previous legal proceedings. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta stressed the importance of the government’s involvement in such cases. Conversely, Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhavi, representing GMR Group, highlighted the government’s significant stake in MIHAN to argue against reopening the case.
The legal dispute stems from a series of rulings, including a decision by the Bombay High Court in August 2021 quashing a communication that invalidated GMR’s contract. The Supreme Court upheld this decision in May 2022, dismissing subsequent review petitions.
The Supreme Court’s decision to hear the curative petition indicates a significant development in the ongoing legal battle over the operational management of Nagpur Airport. The case is set to be heard in the coming weeks, marking a crucial juncture in determining the future of the airport’s management.