A draft note suggesting the cancellation of the contract between Devas Multimedia and Antrix is waiting for comments from the Indian Space Research Organisation.
According to top government sources, the fourth draft of the proposal was sent to ISRO in October 2010, but the space agency is yet to take a view on it. “The Law Ministry had advised the government to move a Cabinet note on cancelling the contract between Devas Multimedia and Antrix,” an informed source explained. “The note is awaiting inputs from ISRO before it can be circulated among other Ministries.” The source added that the proposal to scrap the entire deal was being discussed from 2009. Even the Prime Minister’s Office sought a clarification from the Department of Space, but no action has been taken until now.
Informed sources said that the government was unhappy with the contract because it was skewed in favour of Devas Multimedia, and the company had allegedly concealed information. “For example, Devas claimed that the technology it has is indigenously developed, the source said. “It was later found that there are other companies globally offering the same service.”
Keywords: S-band spectrum deal, ISRO, Antrix, Devas Multimedia, Department of Space, CAG probe
It is regrettable that yet again, no one seems to be bothered about the PM's 'unhappiness'. In the 2G spectrum case, Raja is alleged to have ignored the PM's comments while the PM did nothing. Now it appears that bureaucrats in a department under the PM's direct control have done the same, while the PM ignored their disobedience.
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