The Supreme Court rejected pleas by Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea, and Tata Teleservices for relief on their AGR (Adjusted Gross Revenue) liabilities.
The telecom companies sought relief from paying interest on their dues, penalties, and interest on penalties, citing severe financial strain.
They requested a waiver of over ₹40,000 crore in AGR liabilities, arguing that it would help stabilize the sector and ensure equal opportunity for all players.
The companies appealed under Article 14 of the Constitution, invoking their fundamental right to equality.
In 2019, the Supreme Court had upheld the government’s move to recover ₹92,000 crore in AGR dues, dismissing the telecom companies’ objections.
The telecom dispute over AGR calculations has been ongoing for over two decades.
The 2019 ruling highlighted that the telecom sector benefited from the government's revenue-sharing scheme but tried to avoid paying its due fees.
After the review plea was dismissed, the telecom companies filed a curative petition, alleging errors in AGR calculations, which the SC had already addressed in a 2020 order.
The 2020 order clarified that AGR dues calculations could not be disputed or recomputed.
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