SC seeks TRAI response on mobile connection guidelines

New Delhi, Jan 3: The Supreme Court today (Jan 3) sought response of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on the guidelines framed by the Centre for tightening the process of verification for providing pre-paid and post-paid connections by mobile phone operators.

A bench headed by Chief Justice S H Kapadia asked the telecom regulator to respond whether the guideline is sufficient to ensure that proper verification is done by the cellular operators before providing mobile connection.

“TRAI should be ready with the comments,” the bench said posting the matter for further hearing after two weeks.

The court was hearing a PIL seeking a direction for strictly following the verification of consumers before providing connections for mobile phones.

The Centre informed the court that guidelines have been framed by it for the purpose.

The petition filed by one Avishek Goenka had sought laying down of guidelines for providing pre-paid and post-paid connections.

The petition claimed the verification process was like a lip-service in case of pre-paid connection and though some degree of precaution is taken in case of post-paid connection, it was not sufficient.

PTI