Wednesday, April 09, 2014

Permission to AirAsia will not violate model code: Ministry

Mumbai: The Ministry of Civil Aviation is likely to contend that AirAsia India’s application for grant of the Air Operator Permit is not a new scheme and hence it would not violate the ongoing electoral code of conduct.
The Ministry has observed that the issuance of the permit, which is subject to the decision of the Delhi High Court, is not a new scheme and does not involve any sanctions or expenditure from the government. The Ministry has made its position clear in a communication to the Election Commission in response to a letter by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy. In the letter, Swamy had stated that “it would be wholly invalid and ultra vires the model code” if the AirAsia joint venture as well as the Tata-Singapore Airlines (SIA) proposal for new airlines receives the Air Operator Permit after March 5, 2014.
All indications are that the Ministry may take a similar stance in the case of the Tata-SIA proposal .A copy of the Ministry’s letter, which was addressed to K Ajaya Kumar, Principal Secretary, ECI, was seen by Business Line.
08/04/14 Business Line
To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline