SC allows 2G telcos whose licences were suspended to continue services till 4 February
14 Jan 2013
The Supreme Court has allowed mobile phone service providers whose licences were cancelled by its 2 February 2012 order in the 2G spectrum case, to continue providing services till 4 February 2013, extending the deadline from 18 January.
With the permits due to expire on 4 February now, the apex court also asked the central government to spell out the price to be charged for continuing with their service after cancellation of licences.
"We want to know what is the price. Just put it in a sealed envelope what is the amount to be paid after our order of February 2, 2012," a bench comprising justices G S Singhvi and K S Radhakrishnan said while posting the matter for 4 February.
"The existing operators are allowed to continue operations till the next date of hearing," the bench further said.
The SC had, on 2 February last year, cancelled 122 licences for the 2G spectrum issued when DMK's A Raja was the telecom minister and had directed the DoT to hold fresh auction for them within four months.
This deadline, however, has been extended from time to time.
