SC slams govt over casual approach in 2G auction
Taking strong exception to the Union government’s “casual” approach in opening bids for the 2G spectrum licenses, the Supreme Court (SC) has chided it for delegating a subordinate rank officer to file affidavits on its behalf.
After hearing in the spectrum licenses scandal — estimated at Rs1.76 crore by CAG — resumed on Monday, the SC rejected the affidavit and sought the telecom secretary’s response regarding the fresh bidding for 122 licenses which were cancelled by the court early this year.
The recent auction accrued merely Rs9,407.64 crore against the target of Rs40,000 crore.
The SC sought an explanation on why all the licenses were not put up for bidding. The court said it would hear the Centre’s stand next week but added: “withholding of even 0.1% spectrum from being auctioned would not be acceptable”.
The court said it was not informed that the auction was only for 800 and 1800 MHz band. It asked for attorney general Goolam E Vahanvati’s opinion about charge-sheeted companies and individuals who were earlier allotted excess spectrum under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
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