SC to rule on AGR ‘calculation error’ plea on Thursday

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court is expected to on Thursday rule on the telcos’ request for permission to show the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) that ‘arithmetical errors’ were committed while computing their adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues, an order crucial for cash-strapped Vodafone idea.

A three-judge bench headed by Justice L. N. Rao and comprising Justice Abdul Nazeer and Justice M.R. Shah had reserved its order at a hearing last Monday. The bench will rule on separate pleas filed in January by Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and Tata Teleservices, seeking a modification of the top court’s September 20, 2020 order which had declared DoT’s AGR calculations as final.

The three telcos are hoping that if allowed to show the calculation errors to the DoT, their AGR liabilities will be reduced.