Centre asks SC to modify 2G verdict to allow spectrum assignment through non-auction means

The Centre on Monday moved an application before the Supreme Court seeking modification of its 12-year-old judgement in the 2G spectrum scam case, which mandated that public resources such as telecommunications spectrum be allocated through an auction, Live Law reported.

The alleged 2G spectrum allocation scam is said to have originated in 2008, when the Union Ministry of Communications and Information Technology sold 122 2G licences on a first-come-first-served basis.

In its judgement in February 2012, the court had set aside the first-come-first-served basis for the assignment of 2G spectrum and cancelled the licences that had been allocated to several companies by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government at the time.

The court had ruled that the government is “duty bound to adopt the method of auction by giving wide publicity so that all eligible persons can participate in the process”, India Today reported.

On Monday, the Centre sought a modification of the judgement so that it can allocate spectrum through an administrative process if “pursuit of governmental functions, or public interest so requires, or auction may not be preferred due to technical or economic reasons”, according to Live Law.

In an administrative process of allocating the spectrum, the government decides the method for selecting the companies.

Attorney General R Venkataramani mentioned the application before a bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud...

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