The direction has been given to the central government following a petition filed by the private contractor Akbar Travels, which provides vehicles for ferrying passengers inside the airport to the national carrier Air India. The company was asked to discontinue services by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) on February 27 on the basis of an Intelligence Bureau report, which cited security threats.

A division bench of Chief Justice Swatanter Kumar and Justice D Y Chandrachud on Thursday directed the Deputy Commissioner of BCAS to grant a post-decisional hearing to the company and affirm or vacate the order passed by them within two weeks.

Additional Solicitor General Rajendra Raghuvanshi had produced the IB report, which had been adverse against the company.

Raghuvanshi submitted that apart from ground handling, the firm can engage in other services like maintaining their foreign exchange counter and taxi services.

Petitioner’s counsel Janak Dwarakadas, however, countered by stating that till date they were not given a show cause notice or no proceedings were adopted against them.