DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATION vs CELLULAR OPERATORS ASSON. OF INDIA

The Supreme Court ruled that the effective date for the payment of licence fee under the New Telecom Policy (NTP) 1999 was extended by six months, but this extension applied only to the licence fee and not to the interest that had accrued prior to this extension. The Court upheld the Telecom Disputes Settlement & Appellate Tribunal's decision that the demand for interest was impermissible as it was based on a due date that had been notionally extended. Consequently, the appellants were directed to modify their demand for interest accordingly.