Telecom tribunal TDSAT today granted a final opportunity to government and six GSM operators to file their reply to its notices on a petition filed by Anil Ambani Group's Reliance Communications, seeking withdrawal of additional spectrum held by rival operators.

The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) direction came after counsel appearing for RCom informed the tribunal that despite its directions neither the Department of Telecom (DoT) nor any of the six GSM operators has bothered to file their replies.

"Respondents (DoT and operators) are given final opportunity... Reply should be filed within three weeks and no further adjournment would be given in this case," said the tribunal.

The operators are Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Essar, Idea Cellular, Aircel Cellular, BPL Mobile and Spice Communications.

On being asked about the reason for delay by TDSAT Chairman Justice Arun Kumar, DoT informed that some meeting at the higher level did not happen, so it couldn't reply within the given time limit.

Later, TDSAT asked the GSM operators, "Are you waiting for government reply". To this, counsel appearing for GSM operators requested the tribunal to give them a last opportunity, which was accepted by the TDSAT.

In its petition filed in January this year, RCom had alleged that the six GSM operators were hoarding over 52 MHz of excess spectrum that DoT had alloted free of cost, which was beyond their eligibility.