Bharti Airtel's petition for immediate SC hearing on 3G roaming case denied

The Supreme Court Friday declined to hold an immediate hearing of a Bharti Airtel petition challenging the Delhi High Court ruling resurrecting the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) order directing it to halt its 3G services in several circles.

As senior counsels Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Soli Sorabjee mentioned the matter before the court, the apex court bench headed by Justice R.M. Lodha said that Bharti Airtel's plea challenging the Delhi High Court order would be listed in the mentioning list Monday.

The division bench of the Delhi High Court, by its April 4 ruling, had vacated the stay of the department of telecommunications (DoT) order by its single judge bench.

DoT had held illegal the roaming pact between Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea Cellular, by which Bharti Airtel was providing 3G services in seven circles where it did not hold licence.