JPC to meet on March 24

"The first meeting of the JPC will be held on March 24," the panel Chairman P C Chacko told PTI on Thursday. The meeting would finalise the Committee`s roadmap, including witnesses to be called and documents to be sought.

When CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury, a JPC member, was asked whether Thomas, who was the Telecom Secretary when the 2G spectrum was being allocated, could be called to appear before the committee, he said the role of Thomas could "be under the scanner".

Asked whether journalists, whose names figured in the corporate lobbyist Niira Radia tapes, would be called by JPC, he said those who can "throw some light" on the scam might be called.

The 30-member JPC, which has been asked to give its report on the issue by the end of the next session of Parliament, was formed earlier this month after a prolonged stalemate between UPA and the opposition in both the Houses over the 2G scam.

The Committee will look into the telecom policy pursued from 1998 to 2009 including the allocation and pricing of telecom licences and spectrum and examine "irregularities and aberrations, if any, and the consequences of their implementation.