Jio writes to Ravi Shankar Prasad: COAI canvassing for going against SC order

Jio said any move to provide relief would be considered as loss to the public exchequer and will set a bad precedent.

Reiterating its demand that no relief should be given to incumbent operators with respect to the Supreme Court’s verdict on adjusted gross revenue (AGR), Jio said any move to provide relief would be considered as loss to the public exchequer. It will also set a bad precedent for other sectors.

In a letter to Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, Jio said any reduction in the financial liability of operators would in effect be rewarding them for their conduct in initiating frivolous and vexatious proceedings to delay payment of their just dues. It also said the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) is continuing to overlook its points of view, which indicate a deliberate and motivated agenda to only safeguard interests of two members: Airtel and Vodafone Idea.

Jio said “… in order to help its two select members get a financial windfall from the government, the COAI is in fact canvassing for going against the decision of the Supreme Court judgment.”

The telco said the SC, in its October 24 order, clearly settled the base on which statutory levies such as telecom licence fee and spectrum usage charge have to be paid, and waiving of interest and penalty on due amounts of the past 14 years will be violative of the judgment. —FE