Communications Minister Kapil Sibal. Photo: IBNLive
he government will file an application in the Supreme Court seeking an extension of the the deadline for the auction of 2G spectrum, Communications Minister Kapil Sibal said Tuesday.
The apex court had set Aug 31 as the date by which the aunction has to be completed.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) on telecom headed by Finance Minister P. Chidambaram Tuesday.
"We are going to move the Supreme Court, place before them the facts and what the government has done, and also place before them that in terms of this schedule it isn't possible to perhaps to complete the auction by Aug. 31," Sibal told reporters after the meeting.
Though Sibal did not elaborate on the extended timeline, a senior official said the auction would likely begin by early November.
Sibal did not say whether an extension of the deadline will allow the affected companies to continue offering services beyond Sep 7.
The Supreme Court had cancelled 122 licences Feb 2 and asked the telecom department to redistribute them through an auction.
The telecom department Monday selected Gurgaon-based Times Internet Limited (TIL), part of the Bennett, Coleman & Co media group, as the auctioneer to conduct the e-auction of spectrum in the 1800 MHz and 800 MHz bands.
The Cabinet had last week finalised Rs.14,000 crore for 5 MHz spectrum in the 1800 MHz band.
Tag : #2G spectrum #Kapil Sibal
from
PTI
Sebi, CCI seek clarity on Jet-Etihad deal
Etihad's Rs 2,058-crore stake purchase in Jet Airways has hit a regulatory air pocket, as regulators are seeking more clarity.
from IANS
Marking nine years of the UPA government, PM Manmohan Singh promised to build "an economically resurgent and socially just India".
from PTI
Rajat Gupta seeks re-trial in trading case
Former Goldman Sachs Director Rajat Gupta's attorneys said wiretap evidence used by the prosecution should not have been introduced at trial stage.
from
IBNLive
Mumbai traders call off strike against LBT
After more than three weeks, Mumbai traders on Monday called off their strike against Local Boy Tax (LBT).
from
IBNLive
iGATE Prez sacked over scandal
Information and technology outsourcing service provider iGATE has sacked President and CEO Phaneesh Murthy for not informing the company board about his relationship with a subordinate employee.
from
AP
Yahoo nearing $1.1B acquisition of Tumblr
Yahoo will meet to consider approving a $1.1 billion acquisition of online content-sharing site Tumblr in a deal Mayer negotiated, according to the technology news site All Things D.
from
In.com
2 become 1: Famous tech acquisitions
Here are some other tech acquisitions that made headlines in the past...
