FIA moves SC on slow hearing of plea against Tata-Air Asia

New Delhi: The Supreme Court said on Thursday that it will hear, after the Diwali vacation, a plea by the Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA) seeking to expedite hearing of its petition challenging the grant of licence to Tata-Air Asia in violation of DGCA rules.

A bench headed by Justice Anil R. Dave said that matter would be heard after top court opens after Diwali vacation on November 7 after senior counsel Dushyant Dave, appearing for FIA, told the bench that the hearing before the High Court has been adjourned 17 times in last two years.

The court was told that the agreement was in breach of the aviation policy as it places the effective control of the Tata-Air Asia in the hands of the foreign party.

Dushyant Dave said that the matter is to be listed before a special bench which had earlier directed the Delhi High Court in 2014 to expeditiously decide the matter.

"The Delhi High Court has granted 17 adjournments in the matter, therefore some direction b e passed for either staying the clearance granted to AirAsia or some direction be passed for expeditious hearing of the matter by the High Court," Dave told the bench.

He urged the court to list the matter for November 7, as the same is coming up for the hearing on November 11 before the Delhi High Court. AirAsia Berhad, a public listed Malaysian company, operates AirAsia through its wholly-owned investment vehicle.