Idea files clarificatory application in SC on 2G order

Mobile operator Idea Cellular today sought clarification from the Supreme Court with regard to an order cancelling 122 telecom licenses issued in 2008 to various companies, including to the Aditya Birla group firm.

Cancelling these licenses, the apex court had earlier this month found fault with the policy followed by the then Telecom Minister A Raja in 2008.

However, Idea has said it had applied for a license in 2006 and not in 2008, when Raja had allegedly flouted norms to give licenses on first-come-first-serve basis. Through its 'clarificatory application', Mumbai-based Idea has become the first company to seek a review of the court judgment that impacted a number of other entities also.

These included Uninor (joint venture between Unitech and Telenor of Norway), Sistema-Shyam (joint venture between Shyam Telecom and Russia's Sistema), STel (JV between Bahrain Telecom and Siva Group), Videocon, Loop Telecom, Etisalat DB (joint venture between DB Realty and Etisalat of UAE).

Since the Supreme Court judgement, STel's foreign partner Batelco has announced its exit from India, while others have also hinted at seeking a review of the order. Idea said in a statement this evening that it applied for the license in June 2006 and as "noted by the Supreme Court, the applications were covered by clause 23 of the UASL guidelines, which were required to be processed within 30 days of their application." The company further said that factually, withing the 30-day period, there was no other applicant.

"Idea's license applications were unjustly delayed until 2008, otherwise they fall in the same category as other 2004 and 2006 applications... which do not form part of the cancelled licenses," the company noted.