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SC admits BSNL petition on TDSAT`s power to impose fine
New Delhi, Aug 22: The Supreme Court on Friday admitted an appeal by Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) challenging a TDSAT decision expressing inability to penalise Bharti Telesonics (BTSOL) for allegedly violating conditional clearance for providing National Long Distance (NLD) telephone service.
New Delhi, Aug 22: The Supreme Court on Friday admitted an appeal by Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) challenging a TDSAT decision expressing inability to penalise Bharti Telesonics (BTSOL) for allegedly violating conditional clearance for providing National Long Distance (NLD) telephone service.
After hearing Attorney General Soli J Sorabjee, who said that this was an important question of law concerning the telecom sector, a Bench comprising Justice S Rajendra Babu and Justice G P Mathur admitted the petition.
Sorabjee argued that under the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) Act, the Telecom Disputes Settlement Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) was empowered to impose penalty upto Rs 2 lakh per day on companies violating its orders.
However, the TDSAT said by an order on March 3 this year that it could not take action under Section 20 of the Act empowering it to impose penalty and dismissed the plea of BSNL, saying it was "knocking at the wrong door".
The Attorney General said that this question of law relating to power of the authorities under Trai Act to impose penalty on companies violating their orders was recurring in various occasions and needed a judicial pronouncement.
Bureau Report
Sorabjee argued that under the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) Act, the Telecom Disputes Settlement Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) was empowered to impose penalty upto Rs 2 lakh per day on companies violating its orders.
However, the TDSAT said by an order on March 3 this year that it could not take action under Section 20 of the Act empowering it to impose penalty and dismissed the plea of BSNL, saying it was "knocking at the wrong door".
The Attorney General said that this question of law relating to power of the authorities under Trai Act to impose penalty on companies violating their orders was recurring in various occasions and needed a judicial pronouncement.
Bureau Report