New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday refrained from passing any order on a PIL filed against Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal accusing him of reducing a penalty amount favouring Anil Ambani-headed RCOM, saying persons aggrieved can avail remedy under the law.
“No order is required,” a bench comprising justices G S Singhvi and A K Ganguly said while taking on file the affidavit filed by Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL) accusing Sibal of favouring RCOM by reducing the penalty from Rs 650 crore to five crore for alleged violations in the Unified Access Service Licence (UASL) agreement.
“If there is any irregularity allegedly connected whatsoever with telecom, it cannot be linked to the 2G,” the bench said. The bench made the remarks after senior advocate Rohinton Nariman, who appeared for the government in place of Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium, replied to a question whether the matter in hand was related to 2G. “Not at all,” replied Nariman. The bench clarified “persons aggrieved will be entitled to avail remedy in accordance with the law.” During the hearing when advocate Prashant Bhushan appearing for CPIL was pressing for the matter to be investigated as Sibal had taken a unilaterally and final decision. The bench said “it is open to CBI for investigation. I am not saying anything” adding, “the minister’s decision may be right or may be wrong”. Nariman appeared for the government in place of Solicitor General Gopal Subramaiam who was not seen in the court.(PTI)