SC asks telecom department not to encash bank guarantees for 3 weeks in AGR Case [24.8.2021]

New Delhi, 24.8.2021 (Tuesday)

In a partial relief for Bharati Airtel, the Supreme Court (/topic/supreme-court) on Tuesday asked the Department of Telecom (/topic/telecom)munications (DOT), not to encash the bank guarantees for three weeks for not clearing Rs 1,300 crore AGR (Adjusted Gross Revenue) dues.

A two-judge bench of the Apex Court, headed by Justice L Nageswara Rao passed the order today and asked the DOT not to encash the bank guarantees for three weeks in AGR Case. The Apex court refused to entertain Bharati Airtel's plea challenging DoT demand, but, the SC, however, said that it (Bharati Airtel) can move TDSAT (Telecom (/topic/telecom) Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal) and can appeal against the Central government's decision. Bharti Airtel (/topic/bharti-airtel), after this, withdrew its plea against DoT's demand to pay Videocon's AGR dues. Bharti Airtel (/topic/bharti-airtel), today, during the course of the hearing, said that Videocon is a telecom service provider under insolvency, which has dues of Rs 1,376 crore. The Spectrum trade governed by govt norms, can't be asked to pay Videocon's dues. The seller has to clear all dues prior to concluding any agreement for spectrum trade.



24 Aug 2021