High court deals blow to Gasim’s bid to retain airport

The civil court granted the injunction earlier this month citing “irreparable damage” to Villa if the tourism ministry had moved ahead with the takeover of the Kaadehdhoo airport in Gaaf Dhaal atoll before a final judgment was reached on the abrupt termination of the 50-year lease agreement.

But the high court ruled that the lower court had failed to take into account “the damage that may be caused by issuing such an order” as the grounds for terminating the agreement was Villa Air’s alleged breach of civil aviation rules and standards 

The high court accepted the argument made by the attorney general’s office that allowing Villa to operate the airport could endanger the safety of passengers, noting that the company’s lawyers were unable to refute the basis of the state’s appeal.