Govt to move Supreme Court for extension of auction deadline

"Auctioneer has given us schedule...We will approach the Supreme Court to place before them the fact what government has done. Also, place before them that in terms of this schedule, it is not possible to conduct auction by August 31," Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal told reporters after EGoM meet.

After cancelling 122 telecom licences in February, the Supreme Court had asked the government to complete the 2G spectrum auction by August 31 and extended the validity of quashed licences till September 7.

The spectrum auction is crucial for companies such as Sistema Shyam, Uninor and Videocon to win the auction for being able to continue the operations.

Sibal said the government will file an interim application before the court and request it to consider the facts as stated in the application.

"As you know licences have been extended till September 7. So we will go back to the Supreme Court with interim application and request to consider the fact as stated in the application," Sibal said.

On Monday, the Department of Telecom had selected Times Internet Ltd (TIL) as auctioneer to operate the process.

The EGoM, headed by P Chidambaram, discussed the schedule which DoT has prepared in consultation with TIL.

The next step for DoT will be to issue Information Memorandum (IM) which is the final document that will carry complete details on auction of spectrum. MORE