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The Supreme Court Monday allowed the Centre to consider Vodafone Idea’s request to quash the Department of Telecommunications’ additional adjusted gross revenue (AGR) demands for the period up to 2016-17, saying the issue lies within the government’s policy domain, news agency PTI reported.
A bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran passed the order while hearing Vodafone Idea’s writ petition against the fresh AGR demands. The company said the new demand of ₹5,606 crore for 2016–17 was unsustainable as the Supreme Court’s 2019 ruling had already been crystallised.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said the Centre holds 49 per cent equity in Vodafone Idea and that about 20 crore users depend on its services. He said the government was ready to examine the company’s concerns to protect consumer interests.
“The solicitor general on instructions states that taking into consideration, the change in circumstances that is the Centre acquiring 49 percent equity and 20 crore customers utilising the service of the petitioner, the Union is willing to examine the issues raised by the petitioner (company),” the bench said.
“Taking into the consideration the status of the case now, the government has infused substantial equity into the company and that it will have direct bearing on 20 crores customers, we see no issue in the Union reconsidering the issue and taking appropriate steps,” the CJI said in the order.
The bench said, “There is no reason as to why that Union should be prevented from doing, with that view of the matter, we dispose of the writ petition.”
AGR is the income figure used to calculate the licence fees and spectrum charges that telecom operators pay to the government.
— with inputs from PTI
