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Journalism of Courage
The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notices to the Department of Telecom (DoT),Tata Teleservices Ltd and others on two different petitions filed by Idea Cellular and Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI),challenging the decision to restrict the sale of airwaves in the upcoming auctions.
The plea sought a direction to the government to sell all airwaves vacated as per the February 2 judgment.
While the order freed up 514.8 MHz of 2G airwaves on a pan-India basis,the government has decided to limit the sale to 302.5 MHz. The auction is scheduled to begin on November 12.
While seeking replies from DoT and others,a bench led by Justice GS Singhvi also said that issuance of notice shall not be in any manner impede the conduct of auction.
The apex court has also sought a response of the Centre on a plea by the COAI,seeking inclusion of airwaves allocated to two Tata Group firms in the fresh auction,along with 122 cancelled 2G spectrum by the court order.
COAI has sought to include Tatas 83.6 MHz spectrum along with the 122 licences in the fresh auction.
