While hearing the adjusted gross revenue (AGR) payment issue, the apex court directed the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to file a detailed affidavit on the issue of the dues to be paid by telecom companies using the shared spectrum.
A bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra asked the telecom department Secretary to submit the detailed reply on past dues, transfer of licenses and dates of grant.
Senior advocate Niraj Kishan Kaul, who appeared for Videocon, argued that the AGR dues stand at around of Rs 1,376 crore. He added the waterfall mechanism, IBC (Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code) apply to all the government debts, as per the past SC verdict.
Suppose 23% of Reliance Communications’ spectrum was being used by Reliance Jio, what’s the amount paid by RJio, the SC bench asked the telecommunications department.
The Supreme Court was hearing the case related to staggered payment of AGR dues to the Indian government by various telecom companies, including Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea. The hearing would now resume on August 24.
It should be mentioned here that the Supreme Court had in October last year upheld the central government’s definition of AGR.