On September 11, 2025, the Hon’ble Delhi High Court allowed a Writ Petition filed by Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), challenging the inclusion of Airport Site (comprising Airport Terminals, Aerocity, etc.) in a tender notice dated November 28, 2024, floated by Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). The MCD, through a tender notice, invited bids for the selection of an agency for the setting up of a materials recovery facility for the management of dry solid waste in the Najafgarh zone on a public-private partnership on a design, build, finance, operate, and transfer basis.

DIAL argued that it is the exclusive custodian and operator of the Indira Gandhi International Airport under the Operation, Management, and Development Agreement signed between DIAL and the Airports Authority of India. DIAL has been entrusted with various exclusive functions at the Airport Site, including solid waste management, which it has been performing since the year 2007. Even the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 reflect that as regards the Airport Site, it is DIAL who is exclusively entitled and obligated to undertake solid waste management at the Airport Site.

The MCD argued that it is the sole local body entrusted with the function of solid waste management in Delhi, including at the Airport Site, and that the monetization of the solid waste at the Airport Site is its exclusive right.

The Bench, comprising Hon’ble Ms. Justice Jyoti Singh, rejected MCD’s argument and decided the petition in favour of DIAL.

The Petitioner (DIAL) was represented by Rajiv Nayar, Senior Advocate, along with DMD Advocates led by Anuradha Dutt, Anish Kapur, Suman Yadav, Gurudas Khurana, and Raghav Dutt.