Earlier this year, in a setback to telecom majors, including Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea, the Supreme Court had refused to review its 2021 order rejecting their pleas for rectification of alleged errors in calculation of AGR dues payable by them. File.
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The Supreme Court on Friday (September 19, 2025) voiced the need for a lasting resolution in the off-and-on litigation concerning the payment of adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues of telecom major Vodafone Idea, which is currently challenging a Department of Telecommunication demand for an additional levy on the company for the 2016-2017 period.
The fresh litigation comes only months after the apex court had rejected earlier petitions by Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and Tata Teleservices seeking relief in the payment of their interest on the dues, penalty and interest on the penalty towards their respective AGR liabilities on the ground that they were under severe financial constraints. The apex court had, in its order in May, concluded their pleas to be âmisconceivedâ.
Appearing for Vodafone-Idea (VI) before a three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi said the situation has changed drastically over the months.
âBut there has to be some finality to these proceedings,â Chief Justice Gavai addressed Mr. Rohatgi and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), while referring to the series of judgments passed by the apex court since 2019 on the issue.
In fact, exactly a year ago, on September 19, the apex court had dismissed a curative petition filed by telcos, including Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea, against the courtâs October 2019 judgment upholding the DoTâs move to recover AGR of about âč92000 crore from them.
On Friday, Mr. Mehta urged the court to hear the case in detail on another date. He referred to the increase in government stake in the company to 49%.
âThe government has infused 49% equity. So we are stakeholders too,â Mr. Mehta submitted.
VI has sought the courtâs intervention on an additional AGR demand of over âč5,000 crore raised by the DOT for the 2016-2017 period. The company said the liabilities have already been calculated, and cannot be changed or increased. It urged the court to quash the additional DoT demand and sought a comprehensive re-assessment and reconciliation of AGR dues for the period till FY 2016-17.
The court scheduled the case for hearing on September 26.
Published â September 19, 2025 12:15 pm IST
