Government thursday filed presidential reference in Supreme Court asking if its judgment in 2G case makes auctioning of natural resources compulsory.

Earlier in the day, President Pratibha Devisingh Patil approved the Presidential reference seeking clarification on the judgment of the Supreme Court on the 2G telecom licence issue.

The apex court in its 2nd February order had cancelled all the 122 licences for 2G spectrum. Information and Broadcasting minister Ms Ambika Soni informed this to reporters after a cabinet meeting in New Delhi.

The Prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Telecom minister Kapil Sibal met President on the issue this morning. Our correspondent reports, questions on which the government wants a clarity from the apex court include whether auctioning of natural resources is the only correct way.

The advantage of seeking a presidential reference is that once the President writes to the Chief Justice of India, he will set-up a special constitution bench comprising at least five judges to decide upon questions raised by the government.

The Supreme Court has already admitted the government's petition for review of its judgement while canceling review petition by private telecom companies.