SC hearing review pleas on 2G verdict today

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear to a host of pleas by the union government and telecom firms seeking a review of its 2 February verdict cancelling 122 2G spectrum licenses granted by former telecom minister Andimuthu Raja in 2008. The court had held that a first come, first served policy could not be used for the allocation of natural resources.

Seven petitions filed by telecom companies and one plea each by the Prime Minister's Office, the union government and A Raja will be heard. The centre has sought a review and clarification of the court's verdict which blamed the Prime Minister's Office for being slow in granting permission to prosecute Raja.

These review petitions will not be heard in open court, but will be decided in the chambers of the judges - Justices G S Singhvi and K S Radhakrishnan.

The apex court had set a 2 June deadline for the 2G licences to stand cancelled and the spectrum returned to the government for fresh auction. The government has essentially sought an extension of this deadline.

Three telecom companies - Tata Teleservices, Sistema Shyam TeleServices and Uninor - have also sought review of the verdict cancelling their licences.

In a separate application, the centre has questioned the apex court verdict holding the 2G allotments as unconstitutional, saying it has entered into the exclusive domain of the executive and the matter was beyond the limits of judicial review.