The Supreme Court has criticised the government?s decision of not putting up the entire spectrum for auction in the recently concluded 2G spectrum auction, says news reports.
During the recently held 2G auctions, the government put up only 390 MHz for sale out of the total 473 MHz vacated following the cancellation of 122 licences by the Supreme Court in February 2012.
Justice Singhvi stated that the entire spectrum vacated as a result of the licence cancellation should have been auctioned by the government. He observed that the government displayed a very casual attitude while dealing with the fresh auctions of the 2G spectrum.
Singhvi sought an explanation from the government for holding back spectrum in the 900 MHz band. It also asked the government to explain the reasons owing to which it did not inform apex court about the bands available for bidding despite it approaching the court several times requesting for an extension in the timeline for holding spectrum auction.
Senior counsel, P.P. Rao, appearing for the government before SC, stated that the 900 MHz band was not put to auction as it required new technology. He added that the 900 MHz frequency spectrum licences were due for renewal in 2014 and it is then that the government would be auctioning the spectrum to get more revenue.
