Delhi HC judge recuses from hearing pleas by aircraft lessors of Go First for release of leased planes

New Delhi, May 25 (PTI) A judge of the Delhi High Court Thursday recused herself from hearing a batch of pleas by aircraft lessors of Go First seeking directions to the authorities to release their planes leased to the crisis-hit airline.

Justice Prathiba M Singh recused herself from hearing the four petitions without assigning any reason.

Let it be listed on Friday before another judge, subject to the orders of the Chief Justice, she said.

The lessors who have approached the high court are Accipiter Investments Aircraft 2 Limited, EOS Aviation 12 (Ireland) Limited, Pembroke Aircraft Leasing 11 Limited and SMBC Aviation Capital Limited.

The lessors have urged the high court to order the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to deregister their aircraft which are currently leased to Go First.

With a moratorium in force on financial obligations and transfer of assets of Go First in the wake of the insolvency resolution proceedings, the lessors are unable to deregister and take back the aircraft leased to the carrier.

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) had on May 10 allowed the voluntary insolvency resolution plea by Go First.

On May 22, the NCLAT upheld the order of the Delhi-based principal bench of NCLT, which had earlier this month admitted the plea of Go First to initiate voluntary insolvency resolution proceedings and appointed an interim resolution professional (IRP) to suspend the company’s board.

Several lessors have approached aviation regulator DGCA for deregistration and repossession of Go First’s 45 planes.

Go First stopped flying from May 3.