Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and Tata Teleservices on Friday approached the Supreme Court seeking a limited review of its October 24 order on the controversial AGR issue.
The companies through their separate petitions have sought waiver of interest, penalty and interest on penalty. The SC order forced Indian telecom operators to pay Rs 1.47 lakh crore in dues to India government. Out of the Rs 1.47 lakh crore dues, nearly 75 percent comprises interest, penalty and interest on penalty.
Of the overall Rs 1.47 lakh crore, the licence fee dues stand at Rs 92,642 crore and SUC is at Rs 55,054 crore. Vodafone Idea need to pay Rs 53,039 crore, while Bharti Airtel needs to pay Rs 35,586 crore. Mobile operators need to clear their dues within January 24, 2020.
Bharti Airtel needs to pay dues of Rs 21,682 crore and the component of interest, penalty and interest on penalty comprises includes Rs 16,152 crore. Vodafone Idea’s due is Rs 28,309 crore and Rs 21,435 crore is on account of interest, penalty and interest on penalty.
Indian mobile operators have urged the Supreme Court for the waiver keeping in context the financial hardship being faced by the telecom industry. Vodafone Idea and Bharti Airtel together posted a loss of around Rs 74,000 crore during the September quarter of 2019 after provisioning for the AGR-related dues.
