NEW DELHI, INDIA: The Delhi High Court has asked the TRAI as well as the Union government to submit their replies on restriction of number of SMSes. TRAI had recently issued a statutory regulation on limiting the SMSes to 200 per day.
Acting Chief Justice of Delhi High Court A K Sikri has sought replies next month. The court took note that the new regulation might violate the citizens’ right to freedom of speech and expression. Both the government and regulator have been told to respond by January 18.
The public interest litigation (PIL) was filed by Anil Kumar, secretary of the non-governmental organization at TRAI. He said that the new rule is arbitrary. Kumar, through his counsel, said that SMS cap was imposed in a non-transparent manner.
“Prior consultation with all the stakeholders is necessary in order to fulfil the requirement of transparency mandated under the TRAI Act,” said the petitioner.
Kumar alleges that the regulator has barred common users from sending SMSes beyond 200 which is not fair.