Nagpur: In a significant decision regarding the management of Nagpur’s Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport, the Supreme Court on Friday closed a curative petition filed by the Union government and the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The petition sought reconsideration of a 2022 judgment that allowed GMR Group to operate and manage the airport, reaffirming the company’s contract amid a long-standing legal dispute.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the government, informed the four-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud that there were no valid grounds to continue the petition. He explained that after a “dispassionate” review, he found no basis for challenging the court’s previous ruling under curative jurisdiction. Emphasizing his independent review, Mehta stated, “There was a view previously that the ground of bias could be pressed, but I am clear that such a ground can never be pressed against an order of this court.”

The Supreme Court bench, also comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna, Bhushan R Gavai, and JK Maheshwari, acknowledged Mehta’s stance and concluded that the curative petition did not meet the stringent legal criteria necessary for such cases. These criteria typically include claims of bias, lack of hearing, or analogous grounds, none of which were applicable here.

This ruling marks the end of a legal dispute that began in May 2022 when the Supreme Court upheld a Bombay High Court judgment favoring GMR Airports. The conflict arose after MIHAN India Ltd (Multi-Modal International Cargo Hub and Airport at Nagpur), a joint venture overseeing the Nagpur airport project, attempted to cancel a contract awarded to GMR in 2019 for the airport’s upgrade and management. MIHAN argued that the acceptance of GMR’s bid was not a formal contract award, but both the high court and Supreme Court rejected this claim, emphasizing the need for fairness in government-awarded contracts.

The Supreme Court’s 2022 judgment, which remains upheld, reiterated that government contracts must adhere to the principles of fairness, equality, and the rule of law. The ruling affirmed that GMR’s contract was awarded appropriately and quashed MIHAN’s attempt to cancel it. This decision ensures GMR’s continued role in managing and upgrading Nagpur’s Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport, a key project for the city’s infrastructure development.