The Supreme Court rejected the arguments by Vodafone Idea, Airtel, Tata Telisveris for Agri Dues waiver, call appeal ‘wrong’. India trade news
The Supreme Court on Monday rejected the appeal to major telecom companies Vodafone Idea, Airtel Endatta Telswis, which is about their request for the outstanding GDP (AGR) outstanding exemption. The bench, consisting of Justices JB Pardwala and R Mahadevan, considered these appeals “wrong”.The bench said to senior advocate Mukul Rohtgi representing Vodafone, “We are really surprised by these petitions that have come before us. It is not expected from a multinational company. We will dismiss it.”According to a PTI report, the Supreme Court refused to intervene in the government’s position regarding assistance to telecom companies.Vodafone had requested a relief of about Rs 30,000 crore, in which interest, punishment and interest were covered on their AGR dues.Rohtgi earlier emphasized that the continuous existence of the petitioner organization was necessary to maintain competition within the telecom industry.After the recent conversion of interest obligations in equity, the government now owe 49 percent in the organization.The company’s petition stated, “The current writ petition does not review the decision, but only seeks the rebate of interest payments, penalty of interest and fine of interest under the decision.”The petitioner requested specific instructions for the government to “work impartially and in public interest” and refrain from “payment of interest, fines and punishment on AGR arrears.
