Call drop penalty: SC asks TRAI to consider amending penalties

New Delhi : The Supreme Court of India on Thursday asks the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to consider amending penalties proposed on cell companies for call drops and inform it about what steps it would be taking.

Cell companies had argued that technical details and difficulties had not been taken into account by TRAI while fixing penalties.

“On one hand municipal authorities were sealing cell phone towers which directly affect the quality of Calls and on the other hand TRAI is charging penalties and not supporting us in getting our towers up and running,” said cell companies to the apex court.

Cell companies said that in any service there will be some elements of failure.

Supreme Court has asked TRAI to review call drop penalty regulation in view of technical issues which are beyond telcos’ control. TRAI had issued technical paper on November 15 post call drop penalty regulation.

TRAI also told the Supreme Court that the technical paper is independent of Call Drop penalty regulation.

The apex court on March 4 had declined interim stay on Delhi HC order upholding TRAI’s decision making it mandatory for telcos to compensate subscribers for call drop.

The regulator has mandated the telcos to compensate the consumers with Re.1 per call up to 3 dropped calls per day starting from January 2016, which has been unanimously opposed by the telcos. (ANI)