KATHMANDU, July 31: The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to issue a stay order sought by businessman Ajeyaraj Sumargi to avoid paying Rs 900 million sought by the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) for the renewal of smart telecom license of his firm Nepal Satellite Pvt Ltd.

A single bench of Chief Justice Cholendra SJB Rana refused to issue stay order sought by Subhash Chandra Paudel on behalf of Sumargi's telecommunications company challenging NTA's decision to demand the license renewal fee and scrap the license for non-payment of the fee.

The bench, however, sought written explanations from the NTA, the Ministry of Information and Communications and the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers on why not issue an order as sought by Sumargi's company.

Sumargi had filed a new petition on Monday to avoid paying the renewal fee while similar other petitions filed by his firm are already pending in the apex court.

Sumargi's petition says Nepal Satellite Pvt Ltd intends to expand its telecom services to remote areas of the country and wants the court's order to avoid paying the renewal fee of Rs 900 million sought by the NTA.

Sumargi's company had sought apex court's intervention to avoid paying the renewal fee stating that the NTA did not give ample opportunity to the company to submit its clarification as required by Section 28(4)(1) and (3) before deciding to revoke the license.

The NTA wrote to Sumargi's firm on July 17 to submit an explanation within seven days for its failure to pay the license renewal fee or face legal consequences.

 
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