The state government had filed an application in the court against the Central Government’s decision to lease out the operation, management and development of Thiruvananthapuram airport to Adani Enterprises for a period of 50 years.

Thiruvananthapuram International Airport was among the six such facilities for which the Adani Group had won the lease.

The bench of justices K Vinod Chandran and T R Ravi dismissed multiple petitions filled by the Kerala Government and the Kerala State Industrial Development (KSDIC) against the privatisation move.

The court ruled that the deal was fair and Kerala government was given concessions and it also took part in the tender process, but Adani had won at the end.

The Kerala government too placed a bid, but the Adani firm won it by quoting a bigger amount. While the Kerala government bid for Rs 135 per passenger, the Adani firm quoted Rs 168.

The other airports that the Adani firm got are situated in Mangaluru, Ahmedabad, Lucknow and Jaipur.

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The High Court while dismissing the government’s plea had observed that the dispute between was between the state and the Union government. Only the Supreme Court and not high courts, had jurisdiction in such Centre-State disputes.

Considering an application by the Kerala Government seeking the stay, the court adjourned the case for detailed hearing on September 15.The government also directed the parties in the case to produce the documents and wrap up their arguments before September 9.

In its application, the state government said unless the stay is granted, it will be put to irreparable injury and hardship.

The state government filed the application in the court, after an all-party-meeting in the state demanded withdrawal of the Union Cabinet’s decision last week to lease out the airport to Adani Enterprises.

Last year, the high court had dismissed the petition challenging the decision, terming it as not maintainable under Article 226 of the Constitution.

The state government then filed an appeal before the Supreme Court against the high court order.

The apex court set aside the judgement of the high court and the matter was remanded back to it for a decision on merit.

Referring to the top court directive, the state government said, “all further proceedings in relation to grant of lease with regard to operation, management and development of Thiruvananthapuram international airport to Adani Enterprises Ltd, is to be stayed pending disposal of the aforementioned writ petition.”

The state argued that Airport Authority of India’s decision to grant the right of operation, management and development of the airport to Adani Enterprises Limiter, which has no previous experience in managing airports, was not in the public interest.

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