New Delhi, Oct. 28 -- In a major relief for Vodafone Idea (Vi), the Supreme Court on Monday allowed the Union government to review and reconsider the additional demand in adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues against the financially distressed telecom operator, marking what could be a fresh breath of life for the beleaguered company struggling to stay afloat in India's hyper-competitive telecom sector. The company currently faces an additional demand of Rs.9,450 crore in AGR dues, including the dues for the period up to financial year 2016-17, which the company pressed for reassessment in the light of the 2020 Deduction Verification Guidelines. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Bhushan R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran permitted the government to revisit its earlier demand, observing that the decision to re-examine the issue was a matter within the Union's policy domain, and that the court saw "no impediment" in the government taking an appropriate decision under law given the peculiar facts of the case. "The Union is willing to examine the issues further. Taking into consideration that the government has acquired stake (in the company) and the issue is likely to have an impact on 20 crore (200 million) consumers, we see no impediment in the Union government reconsidering the issue and taking an appropriate decision under the law," the bench said in its order. It emphasised that the permission to review was being granted in the larger public interest and "in the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case." At the outset, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Union government, submitted a note for the bench, stating that the Centre was willing to re-examine the AGR liability considering the "changed circumstances" surrounding Vi. "This is a company which has seen a huge change in circumstances. The government has acquired and infused almost 49% of stake in this company. So, the government interest -- which is the public interest, has intervened. There are 20 crore consumers, and it was one of the chief reasons why the government had to intervene," said Mehta, handing over a note recording the government's proposal to the bench. The bench then turned to senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Vodafone Idea, and observed, "It (the note) takes care of your concerns." Rohatgi responded, "If it takes care of my concerns that the government will look at all my grievances, I have nothing more to say." The court thereafter disposed of the petition, formally recording the government's assurance that it would reconsider the issue and take an appropriate view under the law. "We look forward to working closely with the department of telecommunications to resolve this matter in the interests of our nearly 200 million subscribers," Vodafone Idea said in an exchange filing....