India’s Spectrum Allocation Policy Irked Delhi High Court

The Division Bench (comprising Justice Mukul Mudgal and Justice Valmiki Mehta) of Delhi High Court on Friday slammed the first-come, first-served spectrum allocation policy of the telecom ministry, days before Telecom Minister A Raja is to take charge for the second time in Sanchar Bhawan. The Bench observed that "It is like selling cinema tickets. We find it very strange that public exchequer and valuable resources have been involved and misused in this way. We are completely astounded." The bench further said that “Prima facie we find that spectrum has been allocated in a worst manner and public Exchequers have lost thousands of crores rupees". The court referred the matter to another bench headed by Chief Justice and directed it to be listed on July 8.