SC to hear DoT plea against airwaves auction nod to Bharti Airtel, Reliance Telecom

Earlier, Tripura HC had allowed Bharti Airtel and Reliance Telecom to bid for airwaves in forthcoming auction

The Supreme Court today agreed to take up the appeal by the Department of Telecom against an order of the Tripura High Court which allowed Bharti Airtel and Reliance Telecom to bid for airwaves in the forthcoming auction, allegedly violating the scheme.

The government counsel sought an urgent hearing today itself as it was the last day to file applications, but Chief Justice H L Dattu rejected the prayer and said that the petition could be heard only on Tuesday.

The government counsel submitted that the high court order would upset the whole auction process as the two telecom companies have been allowed to bid for 5 MHz and 4.4 MHz both online and paper medium in the north-east circle.

According to the notified plan, 5MHz is the minimum and the court has allowed the companies to bid below that. This is against the scheme of the auction, counsel said.

The Dot also want to avert any possible stay against the auction which is due to begin on March 4. Various companies have moved courts in different places against conditions in the notice inviting applications.