The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) plans to file a special leave petition (SLP) before the Supreme Court in a case regarding the sale of bulk SIM cards by Vodafone India to Matrix Cellular (International) Services in 2007.
According to DoT, Vodafone India violated the provisions of the Indian Telegraph Act by selling bulk SIM cards without due verification to Matrix Cellular (International) Services in 2007.
DoT is filling an SLP to obtain special permission to be heard in an appeal against a high court/tribunal verdict.
Earlier, in 2011, DoT had issued show-cause notice and imposed a penalty of Rs 500 million on Vodafone India. However, the penalty imposed on the operator was set aside by the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) in 2012 on the grounds that the operator was not provided an opportunity to present its case. Further, TDSAT asked DoT to serve fresh show-cause notice to the operator.
