Cancel Raja's 2G, PIL tells court

NEW DELHI: A petition filed in the Supreme Court has asked it to direct the centre to cancel 2G licences granted by former telecom minister A Raja.

In a public interest litigation, a group of NGOs and Centre for Public Interest Litigation alleged that 2G spectrum allocation Department of Telecom made during Raja’s tenure was marred by "multiple illegalities, corruption and favouritism."

Citing two press releases issued by the telecom department on January 10, 2008, the petitioners alleged that large-scale irregularities were committed in the allocation.

"Irregularities and illegalities have also been recorded and commented upon by 2 detailed judgements of the Delhi High Court and detailed report of Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India. According to CAG, 85 of the 122 licences were given to companies which were not even eligible and as many as 343 applications were not even considered by the DoT," the petitioners submitted.

The petitioners in this case include Telecom Watchdog, Common Cause, former Chief Election Commissioner JM Lyngdoh, TS Krishnamurthy and N Gopalaswami along with former Central Vigilance Commissioner P Shankar.
They said even the sectoral regulator recommended cancelling 69 out of the 122 licences as licencees failed to roll out services as stipulated in the condition.

"The allocation of 2G spectrum and telecom licences made by DoT pursuant to the two press releases issued by it on January 10, 2008, be held illegal, licences be cancelled, spectrum be taken back by the government and then be auctioned as was done in 2001 and has been done in 2010," said CPIL.

It contended that internationally, in most legal systems, transactions tainted by bribery or corruption or made in violation of established norms and procedures are considered illegal and unenforceable.

"The same must be held in this case. In addition, punitive damages must be imposed on companies that made false declarations or which violated their undertakings given to the government," it said.