2G row: SC takes exception to S Tel writing to govt
Press Trust of India / New Delhi Mar 10, 2010, 19:28 IST
The Supreme Court today took strong exception to telecom company S Tel's corresponding with the government on 2G spectrum allotment at a time when the matter was subjudice.
"Why has S Tel written a letter to the government when we are hearing the case?" a Bench of Justices B Sudershan and S S Nijjar said while directing the company to file an affidavit within two days on why it approached the Centre when the matter is sub-judice.
The court pulled up the company, a joint venture of Chennai-based Siva group and Bahrain Telecom (Batelco), after the Centre informed that S Tel has written to it saying it has accepted the government's position that its application for spectrum has not been rejected and would be considered subject to the availability of the precious resource.
The court posted the matter for hearing on Friday.
The court was hearing a petition filed by the Centre challenging the Delhi High Court's order which had quashed the government's decision to advance the cut-off date for spectrum allocation and had directed it to consider applications of telecom operators which had applied for the same.
The Centre had on the last hearing in December faced a tough time in the court which had questioned the Telecommunication Ministry's decision for advancing the cut-off date for allocation of 2G spectrum to new telecom operators.
The Centre had advanced the deadline for application for spectrum from October 1 to September 25.
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