AGR dues: Telecom firms approach SC for deadline extension

Telecom companies have dialled the Supreme Court yet again on the Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) issue, this time seeking an extension to the January 23 deadline to pay the dues.

Vodafone Idea, Bharti Airtel and Tata Teleservices have moved a joint application before the Supreme Court seeking modifications to the earlier ruling that said the telecom companies should pay their AGR dues before January 23. The companies, which had posted huge losses in the second quarter due to AGR provisioning, are also seeking waiving of the penalties, sources close to the development told BusinessLine.

“We have an application before the Supreme Court today. We have sought permission to sit with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and negotiate a settlement plan,” said Shally Bhasin, partner with Delhi-based Agarwal Law Associates, which is representing Vodafone Idea.