Delhi High Court asks TRAI to explain its call drops compensation order

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court has issued notice to telecom regulator TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) on a plea challenging its direction to telecom companies to compensate consumers for call drops.

The court sought response of telecom regulator on a plea challenging its tariff order making it mandatory for telecom operators to compensate subscribers for call drops from January 1, 2016.

A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath issued notice to the TRAI on a plea moved by telecom operators.

"Since it has to be implemented from January 1, 2016, we will hear the government and pass the order," the bench said while listing the matter for December 22,” a bench said.

Four days ago, the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) and Association of Unified Service Providers in India (AUSPI) had knocked the doors of Delhi High Court for a stay on TRAI’s compensation policy for call drops.

On October 26, TRAI made it mandatory for telecom operators to compensate consumers by one rupee for call drops with effect from January 1, 2016.

"A telecom operator should send a message through SMS or USSD to the calling customer within four hours of the occurrence of call drop and the details of amount credited in his account. For post paid customers, the details of the credit should be provided in the next bill," TRAI had said in its order.