TRAI has told the Delhi High Court that consumers have a right to be compensated for call drops. The Rs 1 penalty scheme which it had introduced to enforce this was different from the service rules which telecom operators have to follow under the current license conditions.
Network brands hit back at these assertions by declaring that even if people were facing an issue, a regulation without any kind of statutory backing can’t be allowed. While talking about consumer groups who were supporting TRAI’s call drop compensation rules, the service providers claimed everyone was prejudiced against it.
According to PTI, Customer organizations had stated that the scheme was a societal compensation and should not be stopped. The Delhi High Court bench, comprised of Justice Jayant Nath and Chief Justice G Rohini, has decided to reserve its judgment on the petition by COAI and AUSPI after hearing the final arguments by all the parties involved.
Operators went on the offense just a few days ago, proclaiming the initiative as arbitrary and whimsical. It said the system was a knee-jerk reaction by TRAI which punished them without any proof of misconduct. The players were of the opinion that the regime would interfere with a brand’s tariff and such a change can only be enacted by an order and not a regulation.
Also Read: TRAI’s call drop rules a knee-jerk response: Telcos to Delhi HC
The providers went on to assert that it was not breaking any of the terms under the present license conditions, which required it to have 90% coverage with a 2% call drop exemption. In its earlier statements, TRAI had categorized the issue as a pervasive problem which amounts to harassment of individuals.
TRAI recently got done with conducting a call drop test drive in 7 cities across India. The evaluation took place from December 21 till January 8 in Surat, Pune, Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, Bhubaneswar and Indore. It sought to find out if telecom companies had improved their service quality.