Supreme Court Rejects Vodafone Idea, Airtel’s Pleas on AGR Dues Calculation

The Supreme Court has dismissed review petitions filed by telecom giants Vodafone Idea and Bharti Airtel, seeking corrections in the calculation of their Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) dues.

With this ruling, the 2021 judgment remains unchanged, leaving the companies with no further legal recourse and making government intervention their only hope for relief.

Supreme Court Upholds 2021 Verdict 

A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, Justice Abhay S. Oka, and Justice Sanjay Kumar ruled that there was no basis for reviewing the court’s July 23, 2021 order. As a result, the pleas from Vodafone Idea and Airtel were rejected outright. “Pending applications, if any, shall stand disposed of,” the court stated in its verdict.

Telecom Companies Allege Calculation Errors 

Both Vodafone Idea and Bharti Airtel argued that the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) made substantial errors while computing their AGR dues. They claimed the calculations failed to consider payments already made and erroneously included non-core revenues, leading to an inflated liability.

Vodafone Idea, in particular, asserted that these “glaring errors” had unfairly increased its financial burden by nearly ₹25,000 crore. The company hoped for a recalibration of dues, which could have provided significant relief to its stressed financial position.

No Further Legal Options Left 

With the Supreme Court refusing to allow any corrections or modifications to the AGR dues, both telecom firms have exhausted all judicial avenues. Their only remaining hope now lies in potential government intervention, such as policy measures or financial relief, to alleviate their financial burden.

Stock Performance 

On February 17, 2025, Vodafone Idea share price was trading 1.10% higher at ₹8.30 at 9:41 AM (IST). The stock reached a 52-week high of ₹19.15 and a 52-week low of ₹6.60. According to the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), the total traded volume for Vodafone Idea was 110.88 lakh shares, with a turnover of ₹9.06 crore.

Meanwhile, Bharti Airtel share price was trading 0.85% lower at ₹1702.50 at 9:44 AM (IST). The stock had a 52-week high of ₹1778.95 and a 52-week low of ₹1,098. BSE data indicated a total traded volume of 0.22 lakh shares for Bharti Airtel, with a turnover of ₹3.75 crore.

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