Panel on 2G spectrum gives report, names some officials

New Delhi, Jan 31 (PTI) The one-man panel that went intothe procedures for giving 2G licences between 2001 and 2009today submitted its report and is understood to have held someofficials responsible for improper spectrum allotment.

The Justice Shivraj Patil committee was set up by TelecomMinister Kapil Sibal to look into the policies and proceduresfollowed during 2001-2009, a period that includes the NDAregime, and ascertain if they were followed in a transparentmanner.

"Some officials have been named and some procedures havebeen commented upon... What the future course of action shouldbe for the grant of spectrum has been commented upon," Sibalsaid after receiving the report.

The committee was constituted to look at the internaldepartmental procedures adopted by the DoT during 2001-09 withthe issuance of telecom, access service licences andallocation of spectrum to all telecom access service licenceesduring this period.

This was done in view of government auditor CAGquantifying the revenue loss to the exchequer on account ofthe sale of 2G licences and spectrum in 2008 by former TelecomMinister A Raja, who insists that he only followed thepolicies of his predecessors, at up to Rs 1.76 lakh crore.

Justice Patil has submitted a 150-page report withannexures running into 1300 pages.

Sibal did not divulge details of the findings, but saidhe would soon look into the report.