The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has submitted an affidavit in the Supreme Court against Vodafone India’s plea to extend the validity of its licences in six circles by another 10 years.

According to the submission by DoT, Vodafone’s basis for the extension of its licences in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh (East), Kerala and Rajasthan circles is demonstrably false. Vodafone had contended that it had already made decisions regarding its investments on the expectation of an extension of licences and therefore, had asked the Supreme Court to extend the expiry of its licences. Vodafone’s licences in the six circles are due expiry in December 2015.

Also, DoT has stated in its affidavit that Vodafone concealed the fact that the operator had filed a similar civil appeal in 2014 and the court had rejected its plea then.

Further, DoT believes that an extension of Vodafone’s licence will, in effect, mean that the operator has obtained spectrum without participating in an auction process and in a way, Vodafone is seeking immunity from the competitive process to which all the other players are subject to.

Referring to the spectrum contract between Vodafone and DoT, the latter added that the terms written in the contract mention that an extension could happen only on the mutual consent of both the parties and the decision of DoT would be final.