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The Supreme Court connected Friday (September 19, 2025) voiced the request for a lasting solution successful the off-and-on litigation concerning the outgo of adjusted gross gross (AGR) dues of telecom large Vodafone Idea, which is presently challenging a Department of Telecommunication request for an further levy connected the institution for the 2016-2017 period.
The caller litigation comes lone months aft the apex tribunal had rejected earlier petitions by Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and Tata Teleservices seeking alleviation successful the outgo of their involvement connected the dues, punishment and involvement connected the punishment towards their respective AGR liabilities connected the crushed that they were nether terrible fiscal constraints. The apex tribunal had, successful its bid successful May, concluded their pleas to beryllium “misconceived”.
Appearing for Vodafone-Idea (VI) earlier a three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai, elder advocator Mukul Rohatgi said the concern has changed drastically implicit the months.
“But determination has to beryllium immoderate finality to these proceedings,” Chief Justice Gavai addressed Mr. Rohatgi and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), portion referring to the bid of judgments passed by the apex tribunal since 2019 connected the issue.
In fact, precisely a twelvemonth ago, connected September 19, the apex tribunal had dismissed a curative petition filed by telcos, including Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea, against the court’s October 2019 judgement upholding the DoT’s determination to retrieve AGR of astir ₹92000 crore from them.
On Friday, Mr. Mehta urged the tribunal to perceive the lawsuit successful item connected different date. He referred to the summation successful authorities involvement successful the institution to 49%.
“The authorities has infused 49% equity. So we are stakeholders too,” Mr. Mehta submitted.
VI has sought the court’s involution connected an further AGR request of implicit ₹5,000 crore raised by the DOT for the 2016-2017 period. The institution said the liabilities person already been calculated, and cannot beryllium changed oregon increased. It urged the tribunal to quash the further DoT request and sought a broad re-assessment and reconciliation of AGR dues for the play till FY 2016-17.
The tribunal scheduled the lawsuit for proceeding connected September 26.
