CCS to take final decision on Antrix-Devas contract: PM

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said the controversial deal between Antrix, ISRO's commercial arm, and Devas for S-band spectrum allocation had never been operationalised and the Cabinet Committee on Security will soon decide on terminating it.

He rejected any suggestions that his office had held "backroom" talks with Devas after the Space Commission's decision to scrap the deal and said any the delay in implementing it was "procedural".

Singh said officials of Department of Space, ISRO and Antrix did meet Devas representatives after July last year since the "agreement had not actually been annulled".

"But no further actions were taken by the Department of Space or ISRO to implement the agreement," he said in an interaction with editors of news channels.

"There have been no backroom talks... There has been no effort in the PMO to dilute in any way the decision taken by the Space Commission in July 2010. On that, I would like to assure you and the country," Singh said.

However, he said that if there has been delay in scrapping the deal, this has been "only procedural".

"No assurance was given in contravention of the recommendation of the Space Commission. Though there has been some delay in processing, this was only procedural. The fact is that the contract was not operational in any practical sense," the Prime Minister said.

He said inter-ministerial consultations on the matter were almost complete and it would be put before the Cabinet Committee on Security for a final decision.

Meanwhile, Devas Multimedia termed as "disturbing and inappropriate" the government's "unilateral" decision to terminate the agreement "without due investigative process and without following the principles of natural justice".

Devas said it expected the government to fulfil all its obligations under the agreement and will take strong steps, including legal, to protect its rights.

"We have grave concerns regarding the government's statement today on pre-meditated annulment of the agreement, despite pending high-power committee and CAG reviews which are still in the preliminary stages," a statement issued by the Bangalore-based company said.