India PM to face Supreme Court questions over telecoms scam

India's prime minister will face questions in the Supreme Court on Tuesday over his handling of an alleged telecoms scam as parliament remains paralysed over demands by the opposition for a full probe.
The court has asked Manmohan Singh to explain why he took 16 months to examine a request for his now-sacked telecoms minister to face prosecution over alleged corruption. Singh decided in the end not to approve the request from a senior opposition lawmaker.
Any significant criticism by the judges could make it hard for the prime minister, long seen as one of India's most honest leaders, to remain in office.
The scandal has now engulfed parliament as opposition parties have kept it shut since November 9 over demands for a full parliamentary investigation into the disputes over sale of telecoms licences and radio airwaves worth billions of dollars.
The coalition government failed to break the parliament deadlock in talks with the opposition on Monday and both houses are expected not to function on Tuesday. The running of government is not affected by the closure of parliament.
Financial markets in Mumbai have shrugged off the deadlock and the scandal engulfing the government. But analysts say telecoms stocks would remain vulnerable given the possibility that the government would be forced to review some licences or spectrum already issued.
The government is not at risk of collapsing but the scandal has weakened its ability to move key economic measures through parliament, and the latest disruptions will further push back legislation including tax reforms and foreign direct investment.
Telecoms Minister Andimuthu Raja was forced to resign last week after his ministry was accused of selling licences and spectrum too cheaply in 2007-2008, possibly costing the state $39 bln in revenue, according to an official watchdog audit.
Raja is a member of the DMK, a small but crucial political party from Tamil Nadu that the Congress party relies on for maintaining a majority in parliament. Raja denies any wrongdoing.
Companies with little or no telecoms experience were sold lucrative licences for a fraction of market prices and the watchdog has said the ministry broke almost every rule in the book.
Corruption has long been a major problem in Asia's third-largest economy, affecting every layer of society.
The ruling Congress party has pledged to cut graft but with kickbacks playing such a key part of getting business done in India, any serious clampdown would put at risk the stability of the entire political system.
On Monday, the Supreme Court criticised the government's appointment of P.J. Thomas as India's chief vigilance commissioner, the head of a body charged with monitoring corruption, due to a pending criminal case against him.
The Commonwealth Games was also riddled with corruption allegations and the head of the organising commission has since been forced to resign as head of the Congress party in the lower house. Several of his senior officials are now under arrest.