2G: Supreme Court rejects all review petitions by private firms

The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected review petitions filed by all private companies in the 2G licence cancellation case.

The court also rejected the government’s review plea on strictures against officials in the Prime Minister’s Office in the 2G judgment.

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The judgment said officials in the PMO should have appraised the PM on the pendency of Subramanian Swamy application seeking sanction for prosecuting A Raja.  The Centre had sought review of these observations, but the Supreme Court rejected it.

However, it has admitted the government's review plea against the 2G licence cancellation order, which will be heard on April 13. The government is seeking clarification whether auctioning of natural resources applies to other sectors.

(Read: Government seeks Supreme Court clarification on 2G auction)

As for the private firms' petitions, the apex court noted that its original judgment "does not suffer from any error warranting reconsideration".

"Petitioners plea for re-hearing in 2G case does not find any valid ground, much less justification to entertain telecom player’s prayer," the court noted.

At least seven companies, including S-TEL, Videocon, and Idea Cellular, had filed review pleas.

The Supreme Court in its February judgement had cancelled 122 2G spectrum licences. Telecom companies Sistema Shyam, Telenor, Tata Teleservices among others had filed review petition on various aspects of this judgement.

(Read: 2G case: Sistema, Uninor move SC seeking review of verdict)

In an statement, Uninor said it would move a "curative petition and urge the Supreme Court to keep its order in abeyance until these arguments are seen and appreciated by the new bench". 

Sistema said it was "extremelly disappointed" with the court's decision, and that it was exploring its legal options. 

The Supreme Court had on February 2 cancelled 122 wireless mobile service licences held by variious  telecom operators because of the manner of their allotment and directed the government to hold auctions to distribute the 2G licences.