**Supreme Court Rejects Telecom Giants’ AGR Waiver Pleas**
The Supreme Court of India has dismissed petitions from major telecom companies, including Vodafone Idea, Bharti Airtel, and Tata Teleservices, seeking a waiver on adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues. The ruling was delivered on May 19, 2025, and reported by the news agency PTI.
A judicial bench, consisting of Justice J B Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan, expressed surprise at the petitions, stating, “We are really shocked by these petitions which have come before us. It is not expected of a multinational company. We will dismiss it.” Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Vodafone Idea, was informed that the pleas were deemed “misconceived,” and the court refused to grant any relief regarding the AGR dues owed to the Indian government.
Vodafone Idea had filed a petition on May 15, 2025, requesting a waiver of ₹30,000 crore in AGR dues, penalties, and interest. The company argued that the government was “handicapped” in providing relief due to the binding nature of the AGR judgment. The court hearing was scheduled for May 19, 2025.
Rohatgi emphasized the importance of Vodafone’s survival for maintaining competition within the Indian telecom sector, which is dominated by major players like Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, BSNL, and MTNL. Following the Supreme Court’s decision, Vodafone Idea’s shares plummeted by 8.82% to ₹6.72 in the afternoon trading session, down from ₹7.37 at the previous close.
In its plea, Vodafone clarified that it was not seeking a review of the judgment but rather a waiver of the payment of interest, penalties, and interest on penalties associated with the AGR dues. This appeal was framed as a request for the government to act fairly and in the public interest, avoiding the insistence on the payment of these additional charges.
The Indian government currently holds a 49% stake in Vodafone following a recent equity conversion related to the AGR dues, highlighting the ongoing financial challenges faced by the telecom sector.
**FAQ**
**Q: What was the Supreme Court’s decision regarding the AGR dues?**
A: The Supreme Court dismissed the petitions from telecom companies seeking a waiver on AGR dues, stating the pleas were “misconceived” and refusing to provide any relief.
