Judge Dandabani /Madras High Court Grants Stay in Aerohub Dispute Against Airport Authority of India

[11/11, 14:07] Sekarreporter: Justice M. dhandabani
[11/11, 14:07] Sekarreporter: Madras High Court Grants Stay in Aerohub Dispute Against Airport Authority of India

The Madras High Court on Monday granted an interim stay in favour of a restaurant operator at the Chennai Airport’s “Aerohub” complex, halting an eviction order issued by the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

The order was passed in a writ petition filed by M/s Saffron Hospitality, which operates the restaurant Kobe Sizzlers at the Multi-Level Car Parking (MLCP) Complex of Chennai Airport, through its counsel Advocate Vijayan Subramanian. The petitioner had challenged AAI’s notice dated October 10, 2025, which directed it to stop business operations and vacate the premises.

During the hearing, Advocate Vijayan Subramanian argued that the petitioner was running the restaurant lawfully under a valid sub-licence granted by Meenambakkam Realty Private Limited, the special-purpose vehicle that developed and operated the MLCP project under a Development Agreement dated June 18, 2018 with AAI. He contended that AAI’s sudden order to cease operations violated the principles of natural justice and the petitioner’s fundamental right to carry on business under Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution.

Counsel for the Airport Authority opposed the plea, submitting that granting stay in one case would open the floodgates for several other sub-licensees facing similar eviction orders to seek relief from the Court.

Rejecting this contention, the Hon’ble Judge observed that “each aggrieved party is entitled to approach the Court seeking its own remedy, and appropriate orders will be passed in each case on its merits.” The Court also observed that the Airport Authority of India should frame a policy to regulate and permit sub-licensees to continue their commercial operations at the Aerohub Complex.