He said that the Court has upheld the government’s stand and it has opined that auction was not the only way for allocating natural resources.
Institutions like CAG “might have perhaps unwittingly, erroneously interpreted the SC judgement relating to the 2G case and thought that all natural resources must be auctioned,” he said. “The SC has provided Constitutional clarity today and we welcome it.”
Law Minister Salman Khurshid also welcomed the verdict as “very important” saying it gave a “sound basis” for the government’s policies on allocation of resources.
Responding to a presidential reference following the verdict on the 2G spectrum allocation, the Supreme Court on Thursday said the auction route was not the only method for allocating natural resources.
“It gives a sound basis for us having done what we have done, and in light of the pronouncement if we have to make changes, we will do so,” Khurshid said.
Welcoming the SC decision, Commerce Minister Anand Sharma said the judgement “vindicates” the position that the government had taken.
“When a state has to take decisions, public good has to be kept in mind… The SC has also upheld, that it is public good which is important, and revenue maximisation is subservient to that, not the other way round,” he said. “And all national resources (are) not meant to be auctioned.”