The Delhi High Court on January 4, 2022 reserved its order on BJP MP Subramanian Swamy’s plea challenging the procedure through which Air India selloff took place. Fixing the date for orders on January 6, a bench headed by Chief Justice D.N Patel gave the government as well as the Tata Group time till the end of the day to file their brief notes explaining their case. Justice Jyoti Singh was also part of the bench. Swamy has been afforded tomorrow’s day to respond to the government’s case.
- Demand for detailed investigation: Swamy has sought a detailed investigation into the disinvestment process which, he claimed, was rigged in favour of Tatas.
- Issue of Corruption: While arguing the case himself he said that he was not opposed to the general policy of disinvestment and was in fact in favour of it but the specific case of Air India sale, however, reeks of corruption, he argued.
- Quash the entire court proceeding: Swamy also urged the court to quash the entire process through which the airline was bought out by the Tata Group.
- Revoke future approvals: Swamy has prayed before the court to revoke any future approvals that may be granted for the Air India sale.
- Issue of disqualification of Spicejet: He also argued as reported in media -The only second bidder, according to him, was SpiceJet which remained disqualified on account of insolvency proceedings initiated against it before the Madras High Court, he said.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said that Swamy’s plea was based on certain misconceptions and sought to outline that SpiceJet was never a part of the consortium to bid for Air India.
Moreover, he elaborated that the decision to privatise Air India was a policy decision taken in 2017 and is not a decision taken recently. The government has been bearing the brunt of the losses the airline has been running into which made the need for selling it off more prominent.
Swamy, during his arguments, also invoked the link between Tata Group and Air Asia. But, Senior Advocate Harish Salve, representing the conglomerate, clarified that the company buying out Air India was a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Sons and was a “100 percent Indian company”.
Hon’ble Chief Justice, D.N.Patel
Chief Justice, Delhi High Court
(Photo: Wikimedia Commons)
Hon’ble Justice Jyoti Singh
Judge Delhi High Court
(Image: Delhi High Court)
