The Supreme Court on Friday ruled the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) had no power to examine and decide questions on the regulations set by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai). Challenging the regulations was in the jurisdiction of high courts.
This judgment was by a Bench on a large number of appeals moved by state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL), Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), Tata Teleservices and Reliance Infocomm. Each was affected in various ways by the TDSAT orders involving regulations set by Trai.
Trai had, in July 2010, filed a petition to the court noting TDSAT was not authorised to hear an appeal against its regulations.
Trai gives regulations on issues like rates, inter-connection and quality of service.
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