Kerala government filed an application in the HC against decision of centre about privatization of Thiruvanathapuram airport to lease out operations, management and development of airport to Adani Enterprises after they won the bid for 50 years.
High court bench of K Vinod Chandran and T R Ravi of Kerala dismissed multiple petitions of the state government and Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC). The court added that it cannot approve the state government’s contention that it deserved preference on grounds that it had completed the process of land acquisition. The bench also said that taking part in the bidding process and later to term, the same process wrong is not justified.
Government contended that it is against the interests of state and also passengers with increased passenger fee and that bidding was shaped to favor Adani as its claims to manage the airport was rejected by Centre even when it offered to match Adani’s bid.
Along with Thiruvananthapuram, Adani also won the rights to run five other airports. They are Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Mangaluru, and Guwahati.
