The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is reportedly seeking penal powers to strengthen enforcement of its regulations and act against telecom operators in cases of non-compliance.
The regulator has written to the Department of Telecommunications, requesting amendments to the TRAI Act with a specific emphasis on penal provisions. It has also proposed a multi-fold increase in the existing penalties.
TRAI has had limited success in recovering fines as telecom operators often challenge such actions in courts. Under the current process, the regulator has to file criminal complaints before a magistrate to recover penalties, which is time-consuming and used sparingly. As a result, TRAI finds it difficult to effectively enforce its regulations when operators do not comply.
