Court quashes DoT notification for granting telecom license

Bombay News.Net
Friday 3rd July, 2009

The Delhi High Court Friday quashed a Department of Telecom (DOT) notification fixing Sep 25, 2007, as cut-off date for granting telecom licenses.

The court also asked the DoT to consider Chennai-based S-Tel's application to start operations in 16 circles.

Justice G.S. Sistani held that the DoT could not arbitrarily fix a cut-off date for cap on the number for licenses - which come bundled with startup 2G spectrum - and quashed the pressnote issued on Oct 10, 2008, on the matter.

The court said, 'The DoT could not be allowed to arbitrarily change the cut-off date and that too without any justifiable reasons.'

The court's direction came over a petition filed by Chennai-based S-Tel, whose application for license in 16 circles was turned down as it had applied on Sep 28, 2007, three days after the cut-off date.

The court directed DoT to consider the application of S-Tel submitted on Sep 28, 2007, for operations in 16 circles.

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