Nripendra Mishra, the former telecom secretary informed JPC probing the 2G spectrum allocation case that there was no delay in issuing licences to Aircel.  Mishra who was telecom Secretary between February 2004 to march 2005 during Dayanidhi Maran’s tenure, categorically denied all the allegations related to this controversy.

This was informed on Tuesday by JPC Chairman P C Chacko in a press meet. He said that Aircel was granted telecom licences for Assam, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, North East, Orissa and West Bengal. He said that in his statement Mishra vehemently denied that there was delay in issuing licences to Aircel.

"Aircel spectrum was not allotted till he (Mishra) relinquished office," Chacko said.

Mishra was questioned about the reason for non- implementation of a October 2003 Cabinet decision on finalising spectrum pricing after consultations between the Finance Ministry and the Telecom Ministry, Chacko said.

The Cabinet had decided to incentivise optimal use of spectrum by telecom operators and dis-incentivise sub-optimal use of spectrum.

Chacko said Mishra told the JPC that the Cabinet decision was not implemented as there was no recommendation from TRAI until May 2005.

The former Telecom Secretary said that spectrum pricing was the mandate of TRAI and in absence of the regulator''s recommendations the October 31, 2003 Cabinet decision was not implemented.

Chacko said the financial implication of the decision to reduce by two per cent the fee for Universal Access Service License across the board and two per cent reduction of payment based on Adjusted Gross Revenue was Rs 968 crore for the first four years with effect from April 1, 2004.

The financial implication every year after the initial four years was Rs 884 crore.

The proposal to reduce UASL fee by two per cent and reduction of AGR payment by another two per cent was moved on December 12, 2003 by the then Telecom Minister and approved by the then Finance Minister.

Interestingly, only Congress members asked questions to Mishra while others remained silent apparently in protest against the non-submission of the controversial 2G note to the JPC by the Finance Ministry.