Delhi High Court initiates contempt of court proceedings against SpiceJet and its directors

The Delhi High Court recently initiated contempt of court proceedings against SpiceJet and its directors for failing to fully comply with its directions to return two aircraft and three engines to aircraft lessor TWC Aviation [SpiceJet Limited v. TWC Aviation Capital Limited]..A Bench of Justices Rajiv Shakdher and Amit Bansal ordered the counsel appearing for SpiceJet to furnish the names of the directors of the company so that the High Court Registry can register a contempt of court case against them.“Issue notice to the appellant as to why contempt proceedings ought not to be taken up against the directors of the appellant company [SpiceJet]...The Registry will register a contempt petition against the directors of the appellant once the names are furnished,” the Court ordered.It then listed the case for further hearing on July 19..The High Court had in May 2024 ordered SpiceJet to return two leased aircraft and three engines to TWC Aviation Capital.It was alleged that three engines from the leased aircraft were removed and being used in other aircraft. TWC claimed ownership over two Boeing 737-800 aircraft along with three aircraft engines which were leased to SpiceJet.A Division Bench headed by Justice Shakdher upheld the order on May 27..On July 2, SpiceJet moved an application before the Division Bench and sought more time to comply with the order. The Bench considered the request and gave SpiceJet time till July 8 to comply with the Court’s directions.When the matter was taken up on July 9, SpiceJet lawyers informed the Court that there has been substantial compliance with the order as two engines and one aircraft frame have been positioned in Delhi for being handed over to the TWC. The Court was told that one more engine is being transported to Chennai to be handed over to TWC.However, the Court said that there has not been complete compliance with the order and issued the contempt of court notice..Senior Advocate Amit Sibal and Advocates KR Sasiprabhu, Kartikeya Asthana, and Manan Shishodia represented SpiceJet.TWC Aviation was represented through Advocates Ankur Mahindro, Ravi Nath, Rohan Taneja, Aditya Kapur, Vaishali, Shubhangi Jain, Ankesh Tripathi, Yashika Arora, Abhijeet Mittal and Siddhant Vyas. .[Read Order]