A Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices G.S. Singhvi and A.K. Ganguly has issued a notice to the centre on Dr Subramaniam Swamy, National President, Janata Party and Prashant Bhushan, senior Supreme Court counsel?s plea seeking cancellation of 2G spectrum licenses allocated during A. Raja?s regime.
The Court also issued notices to 11 companies which allegedly did not fulfill the roll out obligations as per the terms and conditions of allocation of the spectrum. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) was impleaded as a respondent in the petition. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court also said it cannot take cognisance of Sibal?s statement, as it is not part of the record.
The bench also raised questions about TRAI?s silence on the issue of alleged delay in fulfilling roll?out obligations of the companies which were issued 2G spectrum licenses.
With regard to the issue surrounding the actual loss to the national exchequer, the bench said the government will have to work out the figure. Interestingly, when Bhushan mentioned the Comptroller and Auditor General of India?s (CAG) report had given the amount, the bench said it was not the government?s version.
The petitioners had approached the Supreme Court stating that in view of the Rs 1.76 trillion loss caused to the national exchequer by A. Raja who allotted 2G spectrum licenses in violation of the government policy and rules, all the 122 licenses should be cancelled.
Thereafter, the Supreme Court upheld Swamy’s petition who also wanted the court to appoint him as one of the public prosecutors in the case.
