The Telecom Disputes Settlement Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) today issued a notice to STel based on a plea by Reliance Infratel seeking recovery of dues from the now defunct company.
STel is one of the operators whose licences have been cancelled by the Supreme Court and has since shut down its operations.
STel had operations in six circles and had leased capacity from Reliance Infratel, the infrastructure arm of the Anil Amabani Group controlled Reliance Communications.
The TDSAT bench, headed by Mr Justice S B Sinha asked the company to file a reply by March 14.
Earlier, the Tribunal has ordered Etisalat DB to pay up Rs 1,200 crore to Reliance Infratel for similar services offered. On Monday, Etisalat DB raised a technical issue and said it wanted the IP-I registration issued to Reliance by the Department of Telecom.
IP-I registration is mandatory for infrastructure providing telecom firms that lease assets such as dark fibre and towers. Reliance's counsel said that the company had the mandatory registration which would be handed over to Etisalat DB. The Tribunal has adjourned Etisalat's matter till tomorrow.
Both Etisalat DB and S Tel had entered into an agreement with Reliance Infratel for sharing telecom infrastructure on a 10-year lease in 2009. However, both these companies have shut down their operations post the Supreme Court ruling. Reliance Infratel claims that the two operators have not settled their dues before closing shop.