Vodafone on Monday moved the Delhi High Court alleging the Centre is indulging in “arm-twisting” and “coercive” tactics by refusing to sign its unified licence (Ul) till the telecom major unconditionally accepts the “restrictive” clauses in the licence.
Vodafone has contended in its plea that the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) showed them a copy of the Ul only on November 3 and the company had on November 5 written to the government to remove the “restrictive clauses” prohibiting the telecom major from entering into intra-circle roaming (ICR) pacts.
“However, petitioners (Vodafone) were surprised that instead of signing and executing the Uls, the respondent (DoT) wrongly, unreasonably and arbitrarily and at the last moment informed that the letter of November 5 is a conditional compliance and not acceptable.