The central government has moved the appellate tribunal, the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), challenging an order by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) that approved a Rs 9 billion resolution plan by Ashdan Properties for debt-ridden Rolta India.
In its challenge, the centre said only Rs 1 million has been allocated as a token amount for the government and statutory authorities, whereas the corporate debtor, Rolta India, owed a total of Rs 59.49 billion. Against admitted government and statutory claims of Rs 1.79 billion, this allocation amounts to an illusory recovery of just 0.06 per cent, according to the petition filed by the Union of India through the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), as submitted by central government standing counsel.
DoT has raised a claim of Rs 4.69 billion against Rolta India on account of unpaid licence fees for the financial years 2005-06 and 2006-07.
The Mumbai bench of the NCLT had on 15 December 2025 approved the Rs 9 billion resolution plan submitted by Ashdan Properties, which the government has described as a grave miscarriage of justice and legally untenable.
DoT, an operational creditor of Rolta India, had granted an internet service provider (ISP) licence to the company in November 1998 for establishing and operating internet services in the Mumbai service area for a period of five years. A fresh ISP licence agreement was executed on 30 April 2002, under which Rolta was required to pay licence fees based on adjusted gross revenue. Rolta subsequently defaulted on licence fee payments, following which DoT issued demand notices. Rolta then approached the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal, which stayed the notices pending further orders. The Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process against Rolta India was initiated by the NCLT in January 2023.
