2G: Vahanvati was aware of first-come-first-served procedure, says JPC

New Delhi: The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on 2G spectrum allocation has concluded that Attorney General GE Vahanvati was aware of the procedure approved by the Department of Telecommunication on first-come-first served criteria in file notings.

“Even though before the Committee the former Solicitor General (now Attorney General G E Vahanvati) deposed (that he was not aware of changes made in the first-come-first-served procedure)”, the Committee found that his view in filing notings was different.

[caption id=“attachment_1200911” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  GE Vahanvati. PTI[/caption]

“The Committee is of the opinion that the former Solicitor General was in the know of things,” JPC chairman PC Chacko told reporters here today briefing about the report he submitted to the Lok Sabha Speaker.

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The report, adopted by the JPC on 27 September, said the first-come-first-served criteria as adopted and announced through the press release was a clear departure from the policy followed by the DoT till then.

“The committee observed that up till 7 January, 2008 the DoT in all their notings projected the correct picture about procedure followed by them in issuing UAS licences. From 7 January, 2008 onwards the procedure adopted by them was a clear departure from the established practice,” the report said.

“The Committee believes that GE Vahanvati, the former Solicitor General, was in the know of the procedure that was approved by the Department of Telecom in the file notings dated 7 January, 2008,” the report said.

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To substantiate its stand, the report quotes his noting of January 7, 2008 in the DoT file which read: “I have seen the notes. The issue regarding new LOIs are not before any court. What is proposed is fair and reasonable. The press release makes for transparency. This seems to be in order.”

Deposing before the JPC on 5 February, Vahanvati had said that the changes in the first-come, first-served policy were never discussed with him and he had nothing to do with issue of 2G spectrum licences.

PTI