HC refuses to interfere with TDSAT orders on 3G ICR

The Delhi High Court on Thursday refused to set aside the telecom tribunal TDSAT's order directing the Centre not to take any coercive steps against private telecos for alleged violation of license conditions by entering into 3G inter-circle roaming (ICR) pacts.

A bench of Acting Chief justice AK Sikri and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw dismissed the plea of Department of Telecom (DoT) saying "we are not inclined to interfere with TDSAT orders."

The bench also rejected the Centre's plea against Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT)'s decision that it has jurisdiction to entertain the matter relating to 3G ICR agreement among the service providers.

The bench was hearing a plea of DoT challenging the stay on the ban imposed by it on 3G ICR pacts and also the authority of TDSAT to entertain the matters saying the tribunal has no jurisdiction to examine the licence terms and conditions entered among the operators and the DoT.