DoT appeals SC over payment of spectrum charges

The Department of Telecommunications has appealed to the Supreme Court with a petition to transfer various cases pending in many other high courts with regard to the payment of a one-time spectrum charges levied by the department.

In the transfer plea DoT has required a demand to the tune of Rs 26,195.67 crore form multiple telecom companies. The list of the telcos comprises of Airtel, Vodafone, Tata Teleservices, Reliance Communications and Aircel.

DoT has stated that, the service providers were trying to delay the whole process in order to avoid the huge amount of payment to the department. Along with this, the department charges have also been put on hold because of the stays imposed by different forums due to the petitions followed by the operators. DoT also said that, the telcos were also indulged in “forum shopping”, which means litigant approaches different courts and tribunals hoping for the most favourable relief.