The Supreme Court on Friday issued a notice tothe Centre and Air India (AI) on a petition seeking a probe intothe alleged irregularities in recent purchase of aircraft and surrendering profitable routes to private carriers.
A bench of Justice HL Dattu and Justice CK Prasad
A bench of Justice HL Dattu and Justice CK Prasad
sought a response on an appeal filed by NGO Centre for Public Interest and Litigation (CPIL) represented by activist-lawyer Prashant Bhushan .
The CPIL in its petition has demanded either probe bythe CBI or by a SC-appointed special investigation team (SIT).
The CPIL has assailed several ofthe government's decisions, includingthe "massive" purchase of 111 aircraft forthe national airlines costing about Rs. 70,000 crores, taking a large number of planes on lease, giving up profit-making routes and timings in favour of private airlines andthe merger of Air India and Indian Airlines (IA).
AI's losses sincethe merger in 2007 stood at Rs. 28,045.92 crore. Its outstanding debt, including short-term working capital loans, stood at more than Rs. 44,000 crore.
In April,the government had announced a cash-booster of Rs. 30,000 crore that will be infused intothe airline spread over a eight-year period.
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