Former telecom secretary A V Gokak on Wednesday told the JPC probing the 2G scam that he over-ruled a directive by then PM I K Gujral in 1997 that the Department of Telecom- munications ask TRAI to study the demands made by telecom operators and come out with a report. Gokak, telecom secretary between November 1996 and August 1998, told the panel that,instead, he assigned the task to Bureau of Industrial Cost and Pricing and the ICICI Bank as he wanted “expeditious” report.
Since the telecom industry, he reasoned, was then at a nascent stage and not in the best of financial health, TRAI may not have delivered.
“Not at all,” JPC chief Chacko said when asked if the committee was convinced by Gokak’s arguments. On the role of the then telecom minister in the matter, Chacko said, “He was not consulted (by Gokak)”.
Though Gokak maintained that he outsourced the study to get the report fast and help the industry,the report came after 11 months, in November 1998, when Gokak had retired.
Since the telecom industry, he reasoned, was then at a nascent stage and not in the best of financial health, TRAI may not have delivered.
“Not at all,” JPC chief Chacko said when asked if the committee was convinced by Gokak’s arguments. On the role of the then telecom minister in the matter, Chacko said, “He was not consulted (by Gokak)”.
Though Gokak maintained that he outsourced the study to get the report fast and help the industry,the report came after 11 months, in November 1998, when Gokak had retired.
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