The Spice Communications-Idea Cellular licence issue continues.
The Delhi High Court has directed the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) to resolve the issue of the transfer of the former?s unified access services (UAS) licenses to Idea Cellular, say news reports.
The issue is centred on the alleged non-compliance of merger guidelines by Spice Communications and Idea Cellular, following a merger deal between the two in 2008.
Prior to this, Idea Cellular had approached the Delhi High Court challenging the company judge?s verdict which held that Spice Communications? UAS licences could not be transferred to Idea Cellular.
The company judge had said that Idea Cellular had not put on record the Department of Telecommunications? (DoT) written correspondence in this context, along with other relevant documents. Therefore, it held that the six overlapping licenses of Spice Communications would not be transferred to Idea Cellular until prior permission from DoT was obtained. Also, Spice Communications? UAS licenses were reverted back to DoT.
The Delhi High Court has concurred with the company judge?s verdict that the merger guidelines set by DoT were not followed by the two companies. However, it has asked TDSAT to examine the issue.
