RCOM has approached the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) against the government over nonallotment of GSM start-up spectrum in six telecom circles where its subsidiary was already offering GSM services. RCOM has alleged that despite giving in-principle approval for six circles – Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Kolkata and West Bengal – on October 18, 2007, DoT withdrew the approval after a gap of more than one year. The government informed the company of the withdrawal of the in-principle approval on December 24, 2008 and returned the sum of Rs 1.12 billion paid by the company as entry fee for these six circles. DoT stated that it had been a mistake to accept the money as RCOM already had GSM spectrum in those circles and there was no question of duplicating it. However, according to RCOM, at the time of according the approval, DoT was aware of the presence of its subsidiary company Reliance Telecom in the circles and still accepted the payment.