TDSAT pulled up the regulator TRAI for not taking any steps in the matter of recent tariff hike by three major telecom players -- Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Essar and Idea.
NEW DELHI: Telecom tribunal TDSAT on Friday pulled up the regulator TRAI for not taking any steps till now in the matter of recent tariff hike by three major telecom players -- Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Essar and Idea.
During proceedings in TDSAT on a petition by NGO, Telecom Watchdog, on last month's hike in charges by the operators, TRAI, "We are constantly watching in this issue... and still the charges are within the ceiling limits".
On this, a TDSAT bench headed by Justice Arun Kumar said, "What are you watching? This is not a simple bird watching. You have to do something... do let us know by Wednesday what have you done so far."
Telecom Watchdog had sought the regulator's intervention on the price hike by Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Essar and Idea. It alleged the firms have formed a cartel and hiked local call charges by 20 per cent and ISD calls by 20-32 per cent.
The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal also asked the NGO to furnish a list of consumers it was representing. As per the TRAI Act, TDSAT could entertain only such petitions which are filed by a group of consumers.
TDSAT said it wanted a positive response from TRAI on the issue. On this, TRAI counsel said he would take instructions from the regulator on what they could do.
TRAI has put the tariffs under forbearance policy, through which it monitors the level of charges, after a persistent downward trend due to competition in the past.
The NGO further alleged that the trio was even violating the "principle of economics of sale" as they were charging higher tariff in Delhi in comparison to Chennai.
In Chennai, Airtel charges Rs 0.99 for local call but in Delhi it is Rs 1.20. For an SMS it was charging Rs 0.05 only in Chennai but is collecting Rs 1.20 in Delhi.
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