Aviation & Maritime Law

Overview

Aviation and maritime are among the most specialised and internationally interconnected areas of Indian law. Aviation in India is regulated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) under the Aircraft Act 1934, Aircraft Rules 1937, and Civil Aviation Requirements — supplemented by the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority Act 2008 and IATA standards. Maritime law in India is governed by the Admiralty (Jurisdiction and Settlement of Maritime Claims) Act 2017, the Merchant Shipping Act 1958, and the body of English admiralty law incorporated into Indian jurisprudence. Corpus Juris Legal advises airlines, aircraft lessors, MRO organisations, airports, shipping companies, ship owners, charterers, and cargo interests on both regulatory compliance and dispute resolution. Our aviation practice covers DGCA regulatory compliance advisory, Air Operator Certificate applications and renewals, aircraft registration and de-registration, aircraft lease documentation (JOLCO, operating lease, finance lease), and navigation of the Cape Town Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment for aircraft financing. Aviation accident investigation legal advisory and DGCA enforcement response are also within our practice. Our maritime practice covers ship arrest proceedings under the Admiralty Act 2017 — including emergency arrest applications before the High Courts of Bombay, Madras, Calcutta, and Gujarat — charter party disputes, cargo damage claims, marine insurance, bill of lading disputes, and P&I club advisory. For shipping companies, we advise on Merchant Shipping Act compliance, ISM Code implementation, port state control inspection response, and maritime environmental law obligations under MARPOL.

Key Service Components

• ◆DGCA regulatory compliance — Air Operator Certificate, route approvals
• ◆Aircraft lease documentation — operating lease, finance lease, JOLCO
• ◆Cape Town Convention registration and international interest advisory
• ◆Aircraft de-registration and export certificate of airworthiness
• ◆DGCA enforcement response and aviation accident legal advisory
• ◆Ship arrest proceedings under Admiralty Act 2017
• ◆Charter party dispute — voyage and time charter arbitration
• ◆Cargo damage and bill of lading dispute resolution
• ◆Marine insurance claims advisory and P&I club coordination
• ◆Merchant Shipping Act compliance and port state control advisory

Our Approach

We maintain the operational readiness for emergency aviation and admiralty matters — with the precedent research, procedural templates, and court contacts that emergency proceedings demand. Clients in these sectors need counsel who can act immediately, not counsel who needs to learn the practice area when the crisis begins.

Other Regulatory & Compliance Services