Subramanian Swamy moves EC over licences to AirAsia, Tata-SIA

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Dr Subramanian Swamy has approached the Election Commission (EC) seeking to restrain aviation regulator Director-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issuing flying licences to the proposed AirAsia and Tata-SIA airline joint ventures till a new government takes over.

In a memorandum presented to Chief Election Commissioner VS Sampath, Swami urged the EC to ''formally restrain the DGCA from proceeding any further in the matter till after the new government takes office after the election.''

''My information is that the ministry of civil aviation is unaware of the principle laid down by the Election Commission in enforcing the model code, that is, no administrative or policy decision impacting the benefits accruable to any section of the society, should not be cleared if there is no operational urgency in the matter,'' he said.

The DGCA ''appears hell bent on issuing an Airline Operators' Permit to these two joint ventures'', even though the Delhi High Court was in ''an advanced stage'' on the matter, Swami quoted sources as saying.

According to Swami, the central government is swiftly moving to operationalise the $30-million deal between Tata Sons and Malaysia-based AirAsia when the court is in the process of constituting a special bench to hear pleas seeking to quash approvals being granted by the centre.

Chief Justice G Rohini has constituted a special bench comprising her and Justices Pradeep Nandrajog and Rajiv Sahai Endlaw, which will start hearing the petitions  that also include a PIL filed by Swamy, on 11 July.

The Federation of Indian Airlines has also filed two separate petitions challenging the approvals granted to the Tata-Airasia and Tata-SIA Airlines.

Tata-SIA Airlines Ltd is a joint venture between Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines (SIA), while AirAsia India is a joint venture between Tata Sons, Malaysia-based AirAsia and infrastructre firm Telstra Trade Place.