Wednesday, July 28, 1999 Published at 14:00 GMT 15:00 UK
World: South Asia
Poll body challenges telecoms plans
Direct satellite broadcasting plans are now on hold
India's autonomous Election Commission has challenged two controversial decisions made by the government involving satellite broadcasting and telecom policy.
At the same time, it has asked the government for more information on a decision to restructure fees paid by mobile phone operators to the government.
Under a new telecommunications policy announced by the government in March, license fees were banished and replaced by a revenue-sharing agreement with the government.
The move has come under heavy criticism from the opposition, but has been welcomed by private mobile phone operators.
Major policy decisions
Both decisions had sparked a row in India, with President K R Narayanan indicating that major decisions such as telecom policy should wait until a new government is voted in after the September general elections.
But the Election Commission held that a major policy decision such as this one should be debated in parliament.
"The commission is aware that this matter has been raised in different forums for a long time and there are different perceptions of the matter by various interested parties," the Economic Times newspaper quoted the commission as saying.
The government formally approached private mobile phone operators last week, offering them the option to shift from a fixed license fee regime to a revenue sharing deal.
It is a move that has pleased the operators who said the earlier fees were exorbitant.
The Election Commission has asked for details of the package to be made available to it.
"The commission has asked the cabinet secretary to urgently send a full and comprehensive factual report giving details of the case and its current status," it announced.
Code of conduct
Under an election code of conduct, the commission can review any government decision taken after poll dates are officially announced.
They can also prevent the implementation of any decision they regard as politically sensitive or influential on poll results.
The government argued the decisions they have announced are mere extensions of policy decisions approved before the government lost its ruling majority in April.