Supreme Court rejects telecom firms' plea for relief on government dues
Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea sought review on the order to pay a bulk of nearly $13 billion in dues to the Indian government

A view of the Supreme Court building is seen in New Delhi December 7, 2010. REUTERS/B Mathur/Files
India's top court on Thursday rejected petitions by mobile operators including Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea seeking a review of its order to pay a bulk of nearly $13 billion in dues to the government.
The Supreme Court late last year upheld a demand by the country's telecoms department that wireless carriers pay 920 billion rupees ($12.98 billion) in overdue levies and interest, a decision that almost threatens the survival of Vodafone Idea.