By Shri GL Jogi, General Secretary, Sanchar Nigam Pensioners Welfare Association (SNPWA)
In what is going to be a huge and unprecedented relief to Vodafone, Airtel, etc, to the tune of one lakh crores, the Central government, in total contravention and disregard of the three judgments of the Supreme Court, is considering waiving off 50% interest and 100% penalties on AGR (Annual Gross Revenue) to Telcos Airtel, Vodafone etc. This relief would amount out to roughly one lakh crore rupees.
What is important to remember is that the Supreme Court considered all the aspects contained in the SLPs filed by these Telcos but found no merit in their SLPs. Instead, the Supreme Court severely castigated and reprimanded these Telcos for their blatant violation of the Policy and the terms of contract.
It is significant to mention that these Telcos approached the Supreme Court thrice, praying for waiving off interest and penalties on AGR that they were to mandatorily pay to the Government in conformity with the Policy and the stipulated terms and conditions. However, the Supreme Court outrightly rejected SLPs of these Telcos and denied them any relief whatsoever.
These telcos are already making large profit after increasing their tariffs to the extent of 75%. Now the government wants to give huge bounty.
While the Central government has funds to provide this staggering relief to the extent of one lakh crore rupees to the Telcos, it is shocking how legitimate pension revision of BSNL/ MTNL pensioners is being arbitrarily and nakedly denied by this brazen Government. This is when the pensioners of BSNL/ MTNL have fully met the liability of the Government on account of their pension revision and that pension revision of BSNL/ MTNL pensioners is not going to burden the exchequer in any manner whatsoever. This clearly shows pro-corporate anti-worker attitude of this government.