Supreme Court Dismisses Vodafone Idea, Bharti Airtel Pleas on AGR Dues Waiver
New Delhi, May 19 – In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court on Monday dismissed petitions filed by telecom giants Vodafone Idea and Bharti Airtel seeking a waiver on interest, penalties, and interest on penalties related to their adjusted gross revenue (#AGR) dues.
A bench led by Justice J.B. Pardiwala labeled the petitions as “misconceived,” reaffirming the court’s earlier stance on the matter.
The judgment deals a blow to #VodafoneIdea, which had requested a waiver of over Rs 45,000 crore in AGR-related liabilities. Similarly, #BhartiAirtel, along with its subsidiary Bharti Hexacom, had filed a plea seeking relief from Rs 34,745 crore in dues.
The Supreme Court had earlier upheld the Department of Telecommunications’ (DoT) definition of AGR, resulting in substantial liabilities for telecom operators. Monday’s verdict underscores the judiciary’s firm approach in enforcing compliance with its previous orders.
The dismissal further raises questions about the financial health and future strategies of the telecom companies, especially Vodafone Idea, which has been under severe financial stress.