SpiceJet seeks urgent hearing on plea challenging Delhi HC directive on grounding 3 engines

SpiceJet has requested an urgent hearing from the Delhi High Court regarding its challenge to a directive mandating the airline to ground three engines by February 16

PGurus Newsdesk

August 16, 2024

SpiceJet has requested an urgent hearing from the Delhi High Court regarding its challenge to a directive mandating the airline to ground three engines by February 16

Delhi HC agrees to hear SpiceJet’s plea challenging the order to ground three engines and return them to their lessors

SpiceJet on Friday sought an urgent hearing on its application filed before the Delhi High Court challenging a directive requiring the debt-ridden airline to ground three engines by February 16.

SpiceJet’s application was presented before Acting Chief Justice (ACJ) Manmohan for expedited consideration. ACJ Manmohan informed SpiceJet’s lawyer that due to many judges being on leave, the matter would be scheduled for a hearing on Tuesday.

The directive, issued by a single-judge Bench led by Justice Manmeet Singh Arora, requires SpiceJet to take action to return the engines to their lessors within 15 days. The airline’s urgent plea aims to address the potential operational and financial impacts of this order.

Earlier, SpiceJet was permitted to continue the use of the engines after it undertook before the Delhi High Court on May 29 that it would repay the outstanding lease amounts along with the weekly payments.

It clarified that the return of the engines does not absolve the airline from its liability of payments which have admittedly fallen due.

In an order passed on Thursday, the single-judge Bench of Justice Manmeet Singh Arora asked the airline to take steps to ensure that the engines are re-delivered to lessors within 15 days.

“The defendant (SpiceJet) is a defaulter and has no legal and contractual right to continue the use of the engines.

“The inability of the defendant to pay the admitted outstanding dues is writ large on the face of the record and in fact permitting the defendant to continue the use of the engines without payment would only cause financial distress to the plaintiff (lessors),” it said.

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