Bangalore telecom firms’ appeal upheld

In a setback to Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and other municipal bodies, the high court on Wednesday set aside a single judge’s order that the quantified amount of tax fixed by the BBMP should be adopted by other local bodies on telecommunication companies.

The appeal challenging the single judge’s order pronounced on November 25, 2011 was filed by Reliance Communications, Wireless TT Info Services, ATC India Tower Corporation, Reliance Infratel, Aircel, Vodafone Essar South, Bharathi Airtel and Indus Towers.

The judge held that the quantified amount of tax fixed by the BBMP was to be adopted by other local bodies on telecommunication firms.

The companies challenged the demand notices against them by the local bodies. They contended that the municipal authorities or the local bodies had no authority to make demand in respect of the communication towers installed.