The Delhi High Court today issued notices to the government, Hutchison Telecom India (HTIL), Hutch-Essar and its minority shareholders among others on a petition alleging breach of FDI norms in telecom sector. The petition by Telecom Watchdog, an NGO, has sought cancellation of HTIL’s licence and confiscation of the shares held by the minority shareholders Asim Ghosh and Analjit Singh. The court gave six weeks time to file replies and rejoinder thereafter, if any.

Telecom Watchdog alleged that minority shareholders, Asim Ghosh, Analjit Singh, and another company who together hold 15.03 per cent stake were merely acting as a front for Hutchison. The court also directed the petitioner to amend its petition in view of the clearance given by Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB).

However, the petitioner’s counsel Prashant Bhushan submitted that “it did not require to file an amended petition as FIPB had not taken care of any of his prayers made in the writ petition.” On March 8, the court had directed the Centre and FIPB to enquire into Hutchison Telecom’s holding in Hutch-Essar. The court had then given two months time to complete the probe, but refused to issue notice at that time.