Supreme Court Grants Reprieve to Vodafone Idea on AGR Dues

In a significant development for Vodafone Idea, the Supreme Court on Monday provided respite by allowing the government to reevaluate the additional adjusted gross revenue (AGR) demands levied by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for the period up to fiscal year 2016-17.

Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran acknowledged the government's readiness to reassess the issues flagged by Vodafone Idea. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta highlighted the government's 49 percent stake in the company and underscored the stakes of 20 crore customers, prompting the apex court's decision to permit a reconsideration.

Vodafone Idea had petitioned against further demands for AGR dues, arguing the period was previously addressed by the Supreme Court. The company emphasized discrepancies in calculations and implored for a meticulous re-evaluation in line with the 'Deduction Verification Guidelines' from February 2020. The Supreme Court, recognizing this venture in policy domains, consented to the government's policy-based review.