Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal today welcomed the Supreme Court's judgement cancelling 122 2G licences and said the government will abide by it. He said as per direction of the Supreme Court his ministry will move forward in the issue after Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, TRAI make its recommendations. He, however, made it clear that subscribers will not be affected by the judgement.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Mr. Sibal said that there is no indictment of the Prime Minister or the then Finance Minister P Chidambaram in the Supreme Court's judgement. He said that UPA government had only followed the 2003 policy on first-come, first-serve basis of the NDA government and Supreme Court has termed this policy as discriminating.
He expressed happiness that the confusion has been removed and clarity has been brought in the sector and this will help in getting investments in the important sector.
He said, it is a new beginning and the nation will attract more investments in a sector which is crying for investments since last more than a year ever since the uncertainties engulfed this sector.
Mr. Sibal said the government will abide by the judgement that spectrum should be auctioned which the ministry has done by delinking spectrum from the licence in 2011 after he took over. He also announced that 4 G spectrum will be auctioned by the end of this year. Asked about the implications of the judgement on some companies which have pumped huge money to roll out services, the minister said any agrieved corporate can approach the court for relief.
Mr Sibal said that the Supreme Court in his judgement has clearly said that the then telecommunication minister did not heed to the good advice of both Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Finance Ministry. Terming the DMK as a valued ally Mr. Sibal in reply to another question denied he was blaming Raja or UPA ally DMK.
Asked whether Chidambaram was guilty of omission by not preventing the scam, Mr. Sibal said how he can be blamed if there was no time for him to know that some wrong was being committed.
