Kerala moves SC seeking stay on centre's move to lease out airport to Adani group

16:35 November 24

Thiruvananthapuram:Kerala State government has moved the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the union government's move to lease out Thiruvananthapuram International Airport to Adani group. Earlier, the Kerela High Court had dismissed the state's plea against the centre's decision.

In its plea, the State government has contended that the central government had assured it of not privatizing the airport and consulting it at the time any decision regarding privatisation considering the contribution cost for acquisition of land for airport expansion.

"For that the High Court erred in holding that there can be no claim of promissory estoppel as no promise having been extended by the Central government or Airport Authority of India AI at any point of time," read the plea.

"The petitioner has acted on the assurance given that in the event, if a Special Purpose Vehicle is set up for the Thiruvanthpuram Airport, then the value of land would need to be reflected as Government of Kerela's share capital. It is submitted that the principle of promissory estoppel has been evolved by equality to avoid injustice," read the plea.

It has also raised various legal arguments and various questions of law to be decided by the court.

Previously, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had said the state government would not cooperate with the Centre if it went ahead with the decision to lease out the airport to Adani Enterprises Ltd.