AGR woes: DoT directs officials not to take action against telcos on dues non-payment

New Delhi: The Licensing Finance Policy Wing of the Telecom Department on Thursday directed all departments concerned to not take any coercive action against telecom operators if they fail to clear AGR dues as per the Supreme Court order until further orders. “The Director of Licensing Finance Policy Wing has issued a direction that concerned departments should not take any coercive action against the licensees in case they fail to comply with the Supreme Court order, until further orders,” an official source told PTI. The direction has been issued following approval of the member finance, who heads all DoT departments that deal in matters related to revenue. Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea have communicated to the telecom department that they will not pay AGR dues of Rs 88,624 crore, the deadline for which ends on Thursday, and will wait for the outcome of modification petition listed for hearing before the Supreme Court next week, according to official sources. The apex court has set 23 January as the deadline to pay adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues.