The process of modernisation of airports at Delhi and Mumbai — including transfer of equity shares or even reaching an agreement with private bidders — will rest on the final court’s verdict. This was assured by the Centre before the Delhi High Court today, which is seized of the petition filed by Reliance Airport Developers against the process of modernisation.The bench of Justice Tirath Singh Thakur and Justice BN Chaturvedi, however, declined to pass any order on the plea to impose an interim stay, as sought by petitioner Reliance Airport.Appearing on behalf of the Government, Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramaniam submitted before the court that the parties to the agreement were fully aware that any negotiations during the interim period would eventually depend on the court’s final order.However the division bench, which has been hearing the matter for more than three consecutive days, reserved their opinion till Monday, when the matter will be resumed.On the next date, a decision is likely to be taken on the plea moved by Reliance Airport, seeking an interim stay on any ‘‘premptive’’ agreement being reached by the Government until the matter was finally disposed off.Reliance Airport had challenged the Government’s decision to award Delhi and Mumbai Airport modernisation projects to GMR-Fraport and GVK-ACS respectively, as its alleged the process as ‘‘unjustified and being done in an arbitrary manner.’’The matter will now be taken for further hearing on Monday.
