The legal challenge to the Plastindia trade show's move from Delhi to Gujarat may have lost steam, with an Indian court postponing a hearing until Jan. 12 and some supporters of the court fight saying it could be a “dead case.”
Several Indian plastic companies had filed suit against the Mumbai-based Plastindia Foundation, saying it was unreasonable and a breach of contract for PIF to decide in September to move the huge fair with only five months left before it opens its doors in February. They wanted the show to remain in Delhi.
Now, a judge in New Delhi has scheduled another hearing for the case, for Jan. 12, after an initial hearing on Dec. 11.
But with the show set to open Feb. 5 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, sources involved in the lawsuit suggested it's unlikely that the court would take any action at this late date.
“I am not saying anything but I am confident,” said Subhash Kadakia, president of the PIF. “Our lawyer says that all their arguments will not stand.”
“Let me assure you, do not worry about other things,” Kadakia said. “All things are going positive. The government of Gujarat is working very hard.”
Executives at the lead plaintiff, Aerodry Plastics Automation Pvt. Ltd., declined to comment. But two sources involved with the case on Aerodry's side said this particular legal fight appears to be “dead.”
“I'm very disappointed,” one source said. “Unfortunately court has put the date for 12th Jan. It seems a dead case considering the time left for Expo.”
