The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) has asked telecom major Vodafone India, which had opposed DoT's guidelines on new licences, to accept the fresh permits pending the final verdict in the matter.
Vodafone says that instead of signing and executing Unified Licences, DoT has declined the company's request for the deletion of "restrictive" clauses in licence pertaining to roaming. Plus Vodafone's current permits for these areas are set to expire on November 29.
TDSAT has directed Vodafone to submit an "undertaking for obtaining the Unified Licence as may be asked for by the respondent (Department of Telecom)."
However, Vodafone had approached the tribunal after the Delhi High Court on November 14 asked it to approach TDSAT on the issue. The tribunal has also issued notice to the government which was accepted by its counsel and directed it to file a reply within four weeks.
Adding on, it has also granted two weeks time to Vodafone to file a rejoinder to DoT's reply and asked to list the matter on January 14 next year.
"It is, however, made clear that any condition of the undertaking or any omission therefrom, shall be without prejudice to the rights and contentions of the parties before the Tribunal and the validity of the conditions of the undertaking/omissions there from as also certain provisions of the Unified Licence will abide by the final outcome of the petition," a TDSAT bench headed by Chairman Aftab Alam said.
