The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a curative petition filed by the Union government and the Airports Authority of India (AAI), reaffirming its 2022 decision allowing GMR Group to manage Nagpur’s Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the four-judge bench led by Chief Justice Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud that, after a “dispassionate” review, there were no valid grounds to challenge the previous ruling. He clarified that no bias existed against the court’s decision, and emphasized that he had not consulted the government, providing an independent opinion.
The petition stemmed from a 2019 dispute, where MIHAN India Ltd attempted to cancel GMR’s contract for the airport’s upgrade. The Supreme Court had upheld a Bombay High Court ruling, which found the cancellation unjustified and reaffirmed GMR’s contract.
This final decision highlights the importance of fairness and transparency in government contracts, ensuring GMR’s continued management of the key Nagpur airport project.