No action against telcos on AGR non-payment: DoT

Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea to wait till outcome of SC petition

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Reliance Jio clears all dues

Reliance Jio on Thursday paid Rs195 crore to the Department of Telecom to clear all adjusted gross revenue dues accounted till January 31, 2020, an official source said

The company has made provision of Rs177 crore to pay for the government revenue share based on the Supreme Court judgment dated October 24, 2019

Rivals of Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea have cumulative liability of Rs 88,624 crore and have sought more time from the department

New Delhi, January 23

The Licensing Finance Policy Wing of the Telecom Department on Thursday directed all departments concerned not to take any coercive action against telecom operators if they fail to clear AGR dues as per the Supreme Court direction until further orders.

“The Director of Licensing Finance Policy Wing has issued direction that concerned departments should not take any coercive action against the licensees in case they fail to comply with the Supreme Court order, until further orders,” an official source said.

The direction has been issued following approval of the member finance, who heads all DoT departments that deal in matters related to revenue.

Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea have communicated to the telecom department that they will not pay AGR dues of Rs 88,624 crore, the deadline for which ends on Thursday, and will wait for the outcome of modification petition listed for hearing before the Supreme Court next week, according to official sources. The apex court has set January 23 as the deadline to pay adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues. PTI