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Chandrasekhar's 2G pricing note one of many inputs: govt
A former top bureaucrat's note on 2G pricing in 2007 was one of the many inputs obtained by the Prime Minister, government sources said in New Delhi today, noting that the Joint Parliamentary Committee chief had made it clear that the comments attributed to the official were incorrect.
A former top bureaucrat's note on 2G pricing in 2007 was one of the many inputs obtained by the Prime Minister, government sources said in New Delhi on Friday, noting that the Joint Parliamentary Committee chief had made it clear that the comments attributed to the official were incorrect.
Sources, in the know of the prime minister's views on the subject, told IANS that the then cabinet secretary KM Chandrasekhar's note in December 2007 suggesting an entry fee of Rs. 35,000 crore for spectrum was "one of the many inputs called by the prime minister" and it was promptly "sent to the department of telecom".
"The noting on the letter (from Chandrasekhar) is very clear on this," a source here said to reiterate the point.
Sources also noted that JPC chief PC Chacko had, in his press briefingon on Thursday on the panel's hearing of the day, made it clear that Chandrasekhar had "not stated anything to indicate or hint" that the prime minister had ignored his letter on the 2G spectrum pricing.
This apart, the sources said the Supreme Court ruling on profit maximisation as a motive for allocating natural resources delivered in late September had settled the issue relating to 2G spectrum allocation.
"The apex court judgment is very clear," the source added.
The Supreme Court had said that the auction cannot be the only method for allocating natural resources, and profit maximisation cannot be only basis for it.
It had also said that it cannot prescribe or proscribe method of allocation of natural resources but can undertake judicial scrutiny on case-to-case basis.
