AGR Review: SC refuses open court hearing on petitions of telecom companies including Airtel, Voda and others

The Supreme Court has refused an open court hearing on petitions of telecom operators like Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and Tata Teleservices, seeking a limited review of its October 24, 2019, order which asked the companies to pay licence fee and spectrum usage charges on their overall revenues — those accruing from even streams which are not part of telecom licence — within three months.

Instead of an open court hearing, the apex court bench led by Justice Arun Mishra is likely to conduct the proceedings in its chamber on January 15 or 16, according to lawyers privy to the information. The last date for paying the dues, which for the industry amounts to Rs 1.47 lakh crore, is January 23.

Review petitions are heard by the same bench which has passed the original judgment, unless a judge has retired.