Delhi HC stays govt move to reject security nod for air charter
Delhi HC stayed the centre's decision to reject security clearance granted to Air Car Airlines for transporting Rs3.5 crore in demonetised notes as passenger baggage
New Delhi: The Delhi high court on Friday stayed the centre’s decision to reject security clearance for an air charter service for transporting Rs3.5 crore in demonetised notes as passenger baggage.
“Is demonetisation affecting all government policies? Where does it give you the power to cancel the licence? The money did not belong to them," justice Sanjeev Sachdeva said.
The court issued notices to the ministry of civil aviation (MoCA) and the directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) seeking responses.
On 8 December, DGCA rejected security clearance granted to Air Car Airlines Pvt. Ltd, a Delhi-based air charter service firm. The government also issued a show-cause notice to the firm for carrying large amounts of scrapped currency.
An aircraft belonging to the carrier was booked for a Delhi-Hisar-Dimapur-Delhi flight and the passengers travelling from Hisar to Dimapur were carrying Rs3.5 crore in Rs500 and Rs1,000 notes, currency that ceased to be legal tender as per the Reserve Bank of India’s 8 November notification.
Air Car Airlines said there are no regulations requiring an air carrier to seek permission to carry cash belonging to passengers in the circulars issued by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS).
PTI contributed to the story.
Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed – it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!