All India BSNL Pensioners' Welfare Association.

PRIVATE TELECOM COMPANIES SHOULD PAY Rs. 92000 CRORE TO GOVT.

Finally, the cat is thrown out of the bag. In accordance with the migration plan of 1999, Telecom Operators have to pay a certain percentage of their revenue to the government as license fee etc. In 2005 a dispute arose between the government of India and the private Operators regarding the amount to be paid.

As usual, the private Operators showed less revenue deducting some expenditure towards rent, dividend etc. Government did not accept that calculation. Number of cases were filed in different courts at different levels. The legal battle continued for 14 years. In the meantime, some companies closed their shops and disappeared. Bharti Airtel had to pay to Rs. 21682.13 Crore and Vodafone Rs 28308 Crore originally. They did not pay pointing out the court cases on the Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR).

Now, on 24-10-2019, the Supreme Court bench, consisting of Justice Arun Mishra, Justice Abdul Nazeer and Justice M R Shah rejected the pleas of private companies and ordered that they should pay the dues with interest and penalty. Net result is that Bharti Airtel and Vodafone together have to pay Rs 92000 crore to the government.

Government has enough money to meet all expenses for the Revival plans. Good.