Supreme Court has ‘good news’ for telecom companies

of the country Supreme Court – Top court (SC)- has rejected Public interest litigationFiled and urged the central government to stop the relief given to telecom companies. In September 2021, the government announced relief to the stressed telecom sector from paying statutory dues. A public interest litigation was filed against this decision, demanding cancellation of the grant. According to a PTI report, the Supreme Court said in its decision that these are all policy matters and the decision is taken on the basis of expert opinion.
The country’s apex court had then offered relief to telecom service providers who were struggling to pay Rs 93,520 crore. adjusted gross Income (AGR) related dues. In September 2020, the SC offered 10 years to the affected telecom companies to clear their dues to the government.
What did the Supreme Court say on telecom dues?
Bench of Justice Bibi Nagarathna and bright brown Has issued some instructions for the telecom sector. However, considering the COVID-19 challenges, increase in data consumption, online education, work from home and many more, the court observed that these reform measures are necessary to promote access and adoption of broadband as well as telecom connectivity were found.
The bench said: “In our view, these are all matters of policy and decision-making based on expert opinion and emerging situations and exigencies, which have to be done in the interest of welfare of the people of India with serious technical and financial implications and, therefore, in the public interest Should be, so we don’t think so wardrobe The decisions can be lightly interfered with by a court of law in the absence of any particulars or material brought to the notice of the court holding the decisions of the cabinet to be unconstitutional or arbitrary or contrary to law.
Why did the Supreme Court reject the PIL?
The top court said that the PIL filed by petitioner Anshul Gupta is baseless. The court also observed that any interference at this stage would not only create uncertainty in the implementation of the policy but also jeopardize the policy itself.

“Moreover, other stakeholders, namely, Telecom Service Providers have not been made parties to this petition. Therefore, at this stage, we do not consider it appropriate to entertain this petition.” The court added.
The court also said that it may appear that the cabinet’s decision to introduce structural and procedural reforms along with providing relief measures for telecom service providers is contrary to its earlier directions.
The bench said: “It would have been more appropriate for the Central Government to have filed an application in this regard. But the thing to note is that in the year 2020-2021, there is a drastic change in the lifestyle of the people due to the emerging conditions and precautions and preventive measures in view of the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the world including India. It had to be taken in order to save himself from suffering from the pandemic, which resulted in not only deaths but also disability and poor health after COVID-19.