Dayanidhi Objected to Spetrum Price Monitoring by GoM

The former Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran, who is under  CBI scanner for allegedly favouring a Malaysian firm in the acquisition of Aircel by delaying the files of the latter has seen the some terms of reference of the GoM as impinging on the work of the Ministry. Maran had objected to the terms of reference given to Group of Ministers headed by the then External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee in 2006.

He wanted the GoM to be limited to only vacation of spectrum by Defence Ministry. "You had kindly assured me that the terms of reference of the GoM would be drawn up exactly we wanted, which was to focus only on the issue of vacation of spectrum. I am, however, surprised to note that the GoM as constituted has much wider terms of reference, some of which I feel impinge upon the work normally to be carried out by the Ministry itself," Maran wrote to the Prime Minister.

He suggested that GoM should discuss four points related to vacation of spectrum only -- recommend measures to make available additional spectrum, make available funds to Defence Ministry for more efficient systems, suggest measures of vacation of spectrum in a time-bound manner and suggest measures for early introduction of efficient digital broadcasting. The decision to constitute a Group of Minister to look into the release of additional spectrum by the Defence Ministry was taken in 2006.
In the backdrop of Finance Minister's note to PMO about Home Minister P Chidambaram, the Maran's letter to PM has gained significance.