SC issues notice to Govt on cancellation of 2G spectrum

The Supreme Court today issued notice to the Centre on the plea seeking cancellation of 2G spectrum licenses allocated during the tenure of former Telecom Minister A Raja.

The apex court also issued notices to 11 companies which allegedly did not fulfill the roll out obligations as per the terms and conditions of allocation of the spectrum.

The apex court also impleaded Trai as a respondent in the petition.

A bench comprising justices G S Singhvi and A K Ganguly sought the response from the Department of Telecom and the companies within three weeks and posted the matter for hearing on February 1.

"After considering submission of the petitioner's counsel that since Trai has sent a letter dated November 15, 2010 to Secretary, DoT, which indicated that many companies have not complied with the roll out obligation and not started the services. We deem it fit to entertain the petition," the bench said.

"Accordingly, Trai, through its Secretary, is impleaded as a party," it said.

The bench was hearing a petition filed by an NGO Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL) seeking cancellation of the licenses alleging that all norms were violated.

The companies which were issued notices were Etisalat, Uninor, Loop Telecom, Videocon, S-Tel, Allianz Infra, Idea Cellular, Tata Teleservices, Sistema Shyam Teleservices, Dishnet wireless and Vodafone-Essar.

The bench was also hearing the petition filed by Janata Party Chief Subramanian Swamy who has also sought identical directions.

However, the bench asked Swamy to make the companies, who have not fulfiled the roll out obligations, as parties, and then it will hear the matter along with the CPIL petition.

Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the CPIL, elaborated the grounds for the cancellation of the 2G licenses.