DOT TO TAKE PENAL ACTION FOR DELAY IN PAYMENT
The telecom department is mulling penal action against telecom operators for failing to pay the dues in time. With Saturday being a holiday in various offices, it is likely to wait till Monday evening for the payment before sending out the next set of notices.
The telecom department is considering penal action against telecom operators for failing to pay in time the adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues as directed by the Supreme Court, according to an official.
The Department of Telecommunications (DOT) is likely to wait till Monday evening for the payment before sending out the next set of notices with updated penalty and other punitive action in accordance with the licence norms, the official told
PTI. “The DOT has sent five notices to telecom operators with reminders and penalty provisions on October 31, November 13, December 2, January 20 and now on February 14. Telecom operators are bound to pay as per the Supreme Court (SC) order, and the department never gave them any extension. Now, telecom operators are saying they will pay a sizable amount by Monday, but action will be taken against them for every delay,” the official said.
The DOT had issued stringent order to telecom operators to pay by Friday midnight after facing the ire of the SC for not taking any action to recover dues and passing an order to not take any coercive action against the defaulters. However, none of the companies made the payment on February 14.
The DOT official said the order was issued for internal processes to avoid any complication as the matter was sub-judice. “DOT did not pass any order to telecom operators. Telecom operators filed a modification plea before (the) SC. The apex court after admitting the plea and just before the last date of payment listed the matter for a later date. This left DOT with no room to seek any clarification from the court.
Hence, the department passed an internal order to avoid complication and any chance of contempt to the court proceedings,” the person said.