SC to hear presidential reference on 2G verdict from tomorrow
09 Jul 2012
The Supreme Court will begin hearing on the presidential reference filed by the centre seeking its opinion on whether auctioning of natural resources across all sectors is mandatory as also the various other issues arising from the apex court's 2 February verdict in the 2G spectrum case.
The Supreme Court had, on 10 May 2012, allowed the government to withdraw its review petition filed against the apex court's judgement in relation to the 2G spectrum scam and file a presidential reference.
The government had initially filed the petition for clarity on the judgment, but conveyed its intention to withdraw it early in May.
The Supreme Court had, on 2 February 2012, annulled the allotment of 122 telecom licences holding that the first-come-first-served policy was illegal and unconstitutional.
A 5-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice S H Kapadia will commence hearing on the Presidential reference, which has sought the apex court's view on whether the verdict in the 2008 2G allotment case can be given retrospective effect for radio waves granted since 1994.
The court on May 11 had issued notices and sought responses also from state governments, industry chambers FICCI and CII as also the NGO, CPIL and Subramanian Swamy.