Ticking off the Government for being "very casual" in handling the 2G case, the Supreme Court on Monday said withholding of even 0.1 per cent of spectrum, licenses for which were cancelled, will not be acceptable.
"Government is very casual in dealing with the matter," the bench said while turning down an affidavit filed by an under secretary-level officer on the matter and directed that it must be filed by secretary of Department of Telecom.
"This affidavit cannot be accepted. It has been filed by under secretary officer. Our earlier order clearly said that affidavit must be filed by secretary-level officer. This is a deliberate action on the part of DoT," the bench said.
"On earlier occasion the court had unequivocally rejected affidavit filed by an under secretary. It is unfortunate that the same mistake has been done again. Needful should be done within two days," it said.
The court said that it would hear Centre's stand on auction on Monday but made it clear that withholding of spectrum from being auctioned would not be acceptable.
"Keep in mind that withholding of spectrum, even 0.1 per cent would not be acceptable," the bench said adding that it was never told earlier that the entire 2G spectrum would not be put on auction.
"At no point of time this court was informed that the auction was only for 800 and 1800 MHz band," the bench observed.
It was contended before the court that government has not complied with the apex court's direction and it has withheld 136 MHz spectrum out of 431 MHz in 1,800
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