The Supreme Court of India will hear curative petitions filed by telecom giants Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea today, August 30. These petitions challenge the court’s 2019 judgment in the adjusted gross revenue (AGR) case, which favored the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and imposed significant financial obligations on the telecom companies.
The hearing, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and two other judges, is scheduled for 1:30 pm and will be conducted in a closed court setting, meaning no public attendance will be allowed.
The petitions filed by Airtel, Vodafone Idea, and other telecom companies urge the court to reconsider its 2019 decision. They argue that the DoT made a significant error in calculating the AGR dues, resulting in an arbitrary and excessive penalty. The telcos contend that this error led to an unfair burden on their businesses.
The AGR case has been a major source of contention within the Indian telecom industry for several years. The DoT’s 2019 order sought to recover unpaid dues, including non-revenue related charges, from telecom operators. This sparked legal battles and financial challenges for many companies, including Airtel and Vodafone Idea.
The outcome of this hearing could have significant implications for the Indian telecom sector, potentially impacting the future of these major players and the overall competitiveness of the market.
