The Delhi High Court on Thursday reserved its interim order on a plea of BJP leader Subramanian Swamy seeking a stay on the operationalisation of USD 30 million deal between Tata Sons and Malaysia-based AirAsia. “We will pass the order,” a bench comprising Chief Justice NV Ramana and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw said after hearing arguments of Swamy and Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran, who appeared for the Centre.
“Now the announcement has been made by the airlines that it is about to start its operation in India. A stay is needed as a third party interest would be created. The deal was against public interest and rule of law,” said Swamy, who had sought a direction restraining Centre from taking any decision or granting any other approval contrary to the applicable FDI policy and DGCA guidelines or granting any approval for foreign investment by foreign airlines in a greenfield airline project. The plea was opposed by Solicitor General Parasaran and senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who appeared for Tata-AirAsia. Earlier the bench had suggested Swamy approach concerned Ministries with his deal-related grievances.