Telecom Lead India: The Indian government has replied to
the notice from the Norwegian telecom operator Telenor, seeking damages claim
worth $14 billion. The government said that the legality of the notice could be
examined within the parameters of Indian law.
Corporate Affairs Minister M Veerappa Moily said he
hasn’t seen the letter from Telenor, which faces the prospects of its Indian
venture losing its 22 licences due to the Supreme Court order that has in all
cancelled 122 licences of new 2G players.
Telenor invoked the provisions of India’s Comprehensive Economic Cooperation
Agreement (CECA) with Singapore to slap a notice seeking a solution from the
government within six months or drag the matter for an international
arbitration for failure to protect its investment.
“We have informed the Government of India of our
intent to invoke the provisions of the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation
Agreement between India and Singapore,” said Glenn Mandelid, Telenor spokesman.
Last month, the Supreme Court ordered cancellation of all
122 mobile licences awarded in 2008, which included 22 licences of
Telenor.
Asked about Telonor’s threat that it will go to international court, if the
Government fails to find a solution, Moily said the issue will have to be
examined within the parameters of Indian law.
Moily added “There is a thing like a rule of law. Whether you go to
international law…but we will have to examine within the parameters of our
law and the law of the land.”
editor@telecomlead.com
