The Delhi High Court on Wednesday barred the government from stopping the mobile phone companies to offer 3G services through roaming pacts. This has come as a huge relief to Bharti Airtel.

Granting the stay on the government’s order to stop 3G services Justice Rajiv Shakdher said, "Department of Telecommunication (DoT) will not take any coercive action against the petitioner which will respond to the show-cause notice within 60 days."

Bharti Airtel on Monday had filed a petition in the Delhi High Court challenging an advisory by DoT which asked the operator to stop intra-circle 3G roaming services within three days.
 The court barred the telecom department from taking any 'coercive' action against Bharti Aitrtel till the next date of hearing, which it did not specify.

DoT’s representative additional Solicitor General Rajeev Mehra sought that Bharti should be restrained from providing services to new customers.

Not allowing this the court however said that Bharti Airtel will have to provide details of new customers, who would be provided 3G services.

The Department of Communications (DoT) had issued show cause notice to the leading telcos, Airtel, Vodafone and Idea-asking them to scarp 3G roaming pacts.