<p>Subbarao, as Finance Secretary, had raised questions over the entry fee for mobile operators ahead of the spectrum allocations.<br /><br />In an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court on the 2G spectrum issue, the government had said the then Finance Secretary had raised certain queries on November 27, 2007, regarding the entry fee. A reply to this was given by the Telecom Secretary on November 29, 2007. However, there was no further communication on the issue.<br /><br />Subbarao was asked by the PAC members whether the file pertaining to the 2G spectrum allocation was closed as there was no further communication. To this, Subbarao is understood to have replied in the negative.<br /><br />Members felt the Department of Telecom (DoT) had virtually stonewalled attempts by the Finance Ministry on the pricing of spectrum and the issue of technology neutrality as they were kept out of the terms of reference of the Group of Ministers on the subject.The issues of pricing of spectrum and technology neutrality were first raised by another former Finance Secretary Alok Jha. Subbarao took it up later when he assumed charge as the Finance Secretary.<br /><br />In his final letter written on the issue, Subbarao is understood to have suggested staying the implementation of the decision on 2G licenses and also sought copies of letters granting permission and the dates on which the decision was taken.<br />Some PAC members reportedly expressed surprise over the silence on the matter after such a strong letter from the then Finance Secretary. This exchange took place towards the end of November, 2007, while the 2G allocations were made in January 2008.<br />At a press conference, PAC Chairman Murli Manohar Joshi said Subbarao shared "accurate information" with the members on the controversial issue.<br /><br />"The current RBI Governor was the then Finance Secretary and he shared accurate information regarding his communications with the Department of Telecom," Joshi told reporters.<br /><br />He said the Committee members held "significant discussions" on the issue but ruled out submission of an interim report on the matter during the budget session of Parliament.<br />Asked whether he would recommend a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the 2G issue, Joshi said it was not the job of the PAC to make such suggestions.<br />To a question, he said the PAC had sought some information from the PMO which had been received by them.<br /><br />Joshi said some telecom companies mentioned in the CAG report have sent their views on the matter and the same have been forwarded to the Department of Telecom for comments.<br /><br />To another question, Joshi said the PAC was yet to get a a reply from Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar on his complaint against Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal for his controversial remarks on the CAG report on 2G spectrum allocations.</p>
<p>Subbarao, as Finance Secretary, had raised questions over the entry fee for mobile operators ahead of the spectrum allocations.<br /><br />In an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court on the 2G spectrum issue, the government had said the then Finance Secretary had raised certain queries on November 27, 2007, regarding the entry fee. A reply to this was given by the Telecom Secretary on November 29, 2007. However, there was no further communication on the issue.<br /><br />Subbarao was asked by the PAC members whether the file pertaining to the 2G spectrum allocation was closed as there was no further communication. To this, Subbarao is understood to have replied in the negative.<br /><br />Members felt the Department of Telecom (DoT) had virtually stonewalled attempts by the Finance Ministry on the pricing of spectrum and the issue of technology neutrality as they were kept out of the terms of reference of the Group of Ministers on the subject.The issues of pricing of spectrum and technology neutrality were first raised by another former Finance Secretary Alok Jha. Subbarao took it up later when he assumed charge as the Finance Secretary.<br /><br />In his final letter written on the issue, Subbarao is understood to have suggested staying the implementation of the decision on 2G licenses and also sought copies of letters granting permission and the dates on which the decision was taken.<br />Some PAC members reportedly expressed surprise over the silence on the matter after such a strong letter from the then Finance Secretary. This exchange took place towards the end of November, 2007, while the 2G allocations were made in January 2008.<br />At a press conference, PAC Chairman Murli Manohar Joshi said Subbarao shared "accurate information" with the members on the controversial issue.<br /><br />"The current RBI Governor was the then Finance Secretary and he shared accurate information regarding his communications with the Department of Telecom," Joshi told reporters.<br /><br />He said the Committee members held "significant discussions" on the issue but ruled out submission of an interim report on the matter during the budget session of Parliament.<br />Asked whether he would recommend a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the 2G issue, Joshi said it was not the job of the PAC to make such suggestions.<br />To a question, he said the PAC had sought some information from the PMO which had been received by them.<br /><br />Joshi said some telecom companies mentioned in the CAG report have sent their views on the matter and the same have been forwarded to the Department of Telecom for comments.<br /><br />To another question, Joshi said the PAC was yet to get a a reply from Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar on his complaint against Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal for his controversial remarks on the CAG report on 2G spectrum allocations.</p>