SC to pass order on mobile connection guidelines on March 26

The Supreme Court on Monday said it will deliver its directions on March 26 on the plea for making strict adherence to verification of consumers before providing connections for mobile phones in the interest of national security.

A bench comprising Chief Justice SH Kapadia and justices AK Patnaik and Swatanter Kumar reserved its order after taking on record the suggestions provided by telecom sector regulator TRAI on the guidelines framed by the Centre for tightening the verification process for mobile phone connections.

TRAI has given its suggestions on the March 14, 2011, guidelines framed by the Department of Telecom in which it called for strict following of Consumer Application Form (C0AF) and other norms on verification of consumers.

An advocate associated with the case said TRAI has suggested some relaxation in the norms.

During the brief hearing, advocate Harish Salve and other advocates appeared for telecom operators and apprised the bench about TRAI recommendations on the issue.

The bench said it will not interfere with TRAI's recommendations and give liberty to approach the court to those who will be aggrieved by the guidelines.

"We are not experts. We are not going to interfere with the recommendations of TRAI. We will go by TRAI recommendations. If anyone is aggrieved, they can challenge," the bench said.

Additional Solicitor General Gaurav Banerji submitted TRAI has filed an affidavit giving its suggestions on DoT guidelines.

The court was hearing a PIL by Kolkata-based businessman Avishek Goenka seeking a direction for strictly following the verification of consumers before providing connections for mobile phones.