Securitization of AGR Dues

Way back on September 7, 2018, Nripendra Misra, the then principal secretary to Prime Minister, had written a letter to KK Venugopal, Attorney General of India, requesting him to move an application before the apex court for: (i) early hearing, and (ii) securitization of AGR dues of the government. The letter also said that telcos are “instrumental in keeping the matter undecided”. Mr Misra also pointed out that DoT is also not taking any interest in recovery of Rs 57,000 crore dues despite advisory to them. He pointed out that PS Narasimha, the then Additional Solicitor General (ASG), had petitioned before the apex court for an early hearing in the matter, but without any success.

Mr Narasimha resigned soon thereafter on October 5, 2018. The case was then handled by Tushar Mehta, the then ASG who was promoted as Solicitor General on October 10, 2018. The situation has substantially changed since then. The court has pronounced its judgement on October 24, 2019 and directed the telcos to pay dues in three months.