India court seeks replies on pleas against AirAsia

AN Indian court asked for responses from both the federal government and AirAsia India on an action by the Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), which is opposing the government's go-ahead for the Malaysian budget carrier to begin operations in India, according to the Press Trust of India news agency.

The Delhi High Court also asked India's Foreign Investment Promotions Board to respond and stood down the matter to March 12 to be held together with a similar action from Indian politician Subramanian Swamy, which had challenged clearances given to the new airline by the Indian authorities.

The court also held that the Indian government, AirAsia India and other respondents should file their affidavits in reply to Mr Swamy's claims. The politician had claimed that the reasons given by the authorities for the go-ahead had been "false and misleading" or that India's Director General of Civil Aviation had "acted illegally and in utter disregard of the law".