A public interest litigation was filed in the Supreme Court today seeking cancellation of new telecom licences and 2G spectrum allocated by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) when A Raja was telecom minister between 2008 and 2009. The petition was filed by a group of civil societies, including the Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL).
In their joint petition, the civil societies have alleged that these allocation, made by DoT during the reign of Raja, was marred by “multiple illegalities, corruption and favouritism”. Citing two press releases issued by DoT on January 10, 2008, the petitioners have contended large scale irregularities was committed.
“Irregularities and illegalities have also been recorded and commented upon by two detailed judgements of the Delhi High Court and detailed report of Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India. According to CAG, 85 of the 122 licences were given to companies that were not even eligible and 343 applications were not even considered by DoT,” the petitioners submitted.
The other petitioners in this case are telecom watchdog, Common Cause, former Chief Election Commissioner J M Lyngdoh, T S Krishnamurthy and N Gopalaswami, along with former Central Vigilance Commissioner P Shankar. They further submitted that even the sectoral regulator has recommended for cancellation of 69 out of the 122 licences.
“The allocation of 2G spectrum and telecom licences made by DoT pursuant to the two press releases issued by it on January 10, 2008, be held illegal, licences be cancelled, spectrum be taken back by the government and then be auctioned as was done in 2001 and has been done in 2010,” said CPIL. It contended that internationally, in most legal systems, transactions tainted by bribery or corruption or made in violation of established norms and procedures are considered illegal and unenforceable.