HC refuses to interfere with order directing SpiceJet to ground 3 engines

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday refused to interfere with an order directing low-cost airline SpiceJet to ground three aircraft engines for defaulting on payment to engine lessors.

A bench of Justices Rajiv Shakdher and Amit Bansal said the appeals of SpiceJet challenging a single judge's order to ground three aircraft engines and hand those over to the lessors was accordingly not entertained.

"We are not inclined to interfere with the impugned order. The impugned direction has not been interfered with by us. The appeals are accordingly not entertained," the bench said while pronouncing its verdict on the appeals.

SpiceJet has challenged a single judge's August 14 order directing it to ground three engines by August 16 and hand them over to their lessors within 15 days.

The judge had directed the airline to offer prior inspection of the engines to the lessors -- Team France 01 SAS and Sunbird France 02 SAS -- through their authorised representative at the Delhi airport within seven