Goa, May 22 -- The central government has strongly defended its decision to revoke the security clearance of Celebi Airport Services Private Limited, citing national security as the primary concern. Appearing before the Delhi High Court on May 22, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued that Celebi's operational access to sensitive airport zones-including VIP passenger data and cargo handling-posed potential security risks. He asserted that matters involving national security are governed by plenary powers, and standard procedures such as preemptive disclosures or hearings may not apply, as supported by Supreme Court rulings.

The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security withdrew Celebi's security clearance on May 15, shortly after Turkey expresse...