Satellite Communications: Both the segments are taking turns to present legal opinions from the fraternity to add weightage to their viewpoint. Jio has submitted two legal opinions from former Supreme Court judges batting for the auction model. This has come close on the heels of satcom companies sharing views of former attorney general Mukul Rohatgi who opined auction isn’t the most appropriate and efficient method of resource allocation.
Reliance Jio: Further, he said the top court had held that spectrum can only be “alienated” by auction. “Nothing in the court’s reasoning indicates that this conclusion would not only apply to alienation of spectrum for the purpose of satellite-based communication services,” Radhakrishnan said in his legal opinion sought by Jio, a copy of which has been seen by ET.
This comes on the heels of satcom companies sharing the view of former attorney general Mukul Rohatgi, who said auction isn t the most appropriate and efficient method of resource allocation. As per Justice (retired) Radhakrishnan, when natural resources are made available to private parties for their gain, the state must endeavour to maximise its own revenue by adopting competitive means of disposal. "Any other method would be susceptible to challenge under Article 14 of the Constitution."
They said that trying to shoehorn the satellite service model into the “same service same rule” narrative is not only misguided but even risks stifling the enormous potential that satellite services hold for achieving digital inclusivity in India.