The Department of Telecommunications? (DoT) strategy to help the sector revive after the 2G spectrum verdict is being worked upon.
DoT had identified a three-pronged game plan in this regard and a government group had broadly approved of its suggestions.
The document had then appeared before the Union Cabinet, who recently held a meeting to take a call on whether a Presidential reference was required post the verdict.
Meanwhile, DoT has already filed a clarificatory petition and a review petition on the verdict.
It is believed that the Union Cabinet could not reach a concensus and the Cabinet has now asked the Solicitor-General of India for his opinion on this subject.
As part of the proposed strategy, DoT had said that the government ought to file a review petition; a presidential reference should be taken to gain clarity on the legal implications of the judgment and a clarification petition covering operational issues should be filed.
Its proposal to file a review petition broadly entails the government requesting the Court to reconsider its decision pertaining to the first come, first served policy. The Court had said that the policy was invalid under the Constitution.
In this context, DoT had argued that the Court?s findings encroached upon the executive?s jurisdiction to frame policies.
Its suggestion to file a review petition stemmed from its opinion that the Supreme Court?s judgment overlapped with the area of policy-making. So, the Court contradicted the principles of separation of powers and extended beyond the limits of judicial review defined in several of its own judgments.
Regarding its recommendation that the government opt for a presidential reference, DoT had argued that the court had considered only the 122 licences issued on or after January 10, 2008 and had not mentioned the other licences granted under a similar policy. In this context, therefore, the legality of the licences issued earlier came into question.
DoT added that it was unclear whether, as per the judgment, the dual technology licences issued in 2008 were illegal or not.
Also, it said that in view of the judgment, it should be clarified whether any priority could be given to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India?s (TRAI) recommendations pertaining to spectrum, even at a price determined at the auctions.
Thirdly, DoT said that an opinion ought to be taken on whether a ceiling on spectrum acquisition, as recommended by the regulator, is required.
DoT also said the four-month time limit stipulated by the Court for auctions to take place was very short and it would take 400 days at a minimum. In this regard, it recommended that the government file an appropriate application to the Supreme Court.
DoT also mentioned several operational issues in this regard, for which it has been advised to obtain a legal opinion. For instance, the judgment is unclear on whether the companies facing licence cancellation should be informed of the termination or whether they should be permitted to continue to net subscribers in the four-month intervening period.
