New Delhi, May 19 -- The Centre on Monday opposed pleas filed by Turkish company Celebi Airport Services India Pvt Ltd and its affiliate in the Delhi High Court, challenging the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security's (BCAS) decision to revoke their security clearance. The government maintained that the move was imperative to safeguard national security amid deteriorating India-Turkey relations.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing before Justice Sachin Datta, argued that the revocation was based on intelligence inputs indicating that continuing to allow the companies to operate could pose a security threat in the current geopolitical climate. "It is a national security issue and the order reflects the same," Mehta emphasised. He unders...