Advertisment

Govt not bound to accept TRAI recommendations: Mahajan

author-image
CIOL Bureau
New Update

BANGALORE: The government has clarified that it is not bound to accept the recommendations of the reconstituted Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

Advertisment

Clarifying this issue, parliamentary affairs minister Pramod Mahajan admitted that he did a mistake while announcing the TRAI ordinance after the cabinet meeting last night. He said, "The government is not bound to accept the recommendations of TRAI. However, it will be mandatory on government`s part to seek TRAI recommendations," said Mr Mahajan. Addressing the ISP 2000 summit, Mr Mahajan said the TRAI amendment ordinance 2000 would be promulgated shortly. The TRAI would be reconstituted after the promulgation of the ordinance.

"The new body would not have its judicial powers, which would be transferred to a new Telecom Dispute Settlement and Appellate Tribunal. The decision would bring in transparency and end the confusion over the role of TRAI. We are in a peculiar situation where the government is both a licenser as well as a licensee," he said, adding that the government wanted an independent regulator to bring in transparency in the telecom sector. Meanwhile, TRAI Chairman Justice S. S. Sodhi welcomed the government`s decision to reconstitute TRAI saying that the move will strengthen TRAI and boost investment in the telecom sector. Describing the government decision of transferring quasi-judicial powers of TRAI to the Tribunal, Justice Sodhi said this step would enhance the image of the regulator. MTNL Chairman and Managing Director S. Rajagopalan also welcomed the government`s decision to promulgate an ordinance and reconstitute TRAI, saying that it would clear the confusion over the regulator`s role.

"Chief Justice of a High Court or a Supreme Court judge will be made the chief of this new tribunal so that its order can be appealed against only in the apex court," Mr. Mahajan added. The selection of the three-member tribunal Chairman would be done on the advice of the Chief Justice of India, the minister said, adding that the ordinance is awaiting the President`s approval and the government would introduce it in the budget session of Parliament.

tech-news