Will extend 2G auction deadline only if govt gives undertaking: SC

New Delhi: The Supreme Court today said it will consider extending its 31 August deadline given to complete the process of fresh auctioning of 2G spectrum cancelled licences only if the Telecom Secretary gives an undertaking that its judgement would be implemented.

A bench comprising justices GS Singhvi and KS Radhakrishnan said it will not accept the undertaking from officers below the rank of secretary.

The bench, which fixed the matter for hearing on Monday, said that it expects the government to stick to the deadline

given in the application.

[caption id="attachment_428925" align="alignleft" width="380"] Reuters[/caption]

In an application filed by the Telecom Ministry, the government said it needed time till 12 November to start the auction and another 40 days to complete the procedure and allocate licences and spectrum.

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The decision to approach the apex court for extension of the time was taken at a meeting of the Empowered Group of Ministers on telecom on 7 August.

The application said that the entire exercise would be completed in three months and 23 days.

The court had earlier extended its original 2 June deadline to 31 August refusing to grant 400 days to the government to complete the process of fresh auctioning. It had also said the existing licences for the 2G spectrum will continue to be operational till 7 September, 2012.

The apex court on 2 February had cancelled 122 licences for the 2G spectrum and had directed their fresh auctioning by 2 June.

PTI