SC reserves verdict on licence extension plea of Reliance Tel.

The Supreme Court today reserved its verdict on a plea of Reliance Telecom, a subsidiary of Anil Dhirubhai Ambani group, seeking extension of its licences in seven circles by 10 years.
A bench headed by Justice J Chelameswar had issued notice to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on the plea of the Reliance Telecom Ltd that its licence in seven circles in state like Assam, North East, West Bengal, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Himachal Pradesh be extended by another 10 years.
The DoT had earlier rejected the firm's application for extension on February 2.
The Supreme Court had reserved its verdict on a bunch of similar petitions filed by Bharti Airtel, Idea Cellular, Vodafone Mobile Services and Loop Mobile India which had also sought extension of their 20-year spectrum licences by another 10 years.

The telecom operators had challenged the government's decision to reject their applications for extension of their licences and auction the spectrum surrendered by them.
While telecom companies have argued that the terms and conditions of their 20-year licences state that they were extendable by another 10 years, the government has argued that the norms say it "may" extend the licence, and hence the matter was at its discretion.
The operators had earlier sought a stay on auction, saying their spectrum, for which the 20-year licence has expired, should not be put on the block.
On Mar 23, the apex court had rejected the plea to stay the spectrum auction but agreed to hear the case expeditiously and ordered that the companies would participate in the auction without prejudice to the rights they claim on licence extension.