(a) whether Hon`ble High Court have struck down the impugned regulations and implementation of Calling Party Pay (CPP) in the form prevalent at the time of hearing;
(b) if so, whether the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) was to rework the arrangement as clarified by the Hon`ble Judges; and
(c) the details of the revised arrangement for the introduction of CPP regime?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS (SHRI TAPAN SIKDAR)
(a) & (b) Sir, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) had announced reduction in Cellular Tariffs alongwith introduction of Calling Party Pays (CPP) vide Telecom Interconnection and Revenue Sharing (First Amendment) Regulation and Telecommunication Tariff Order (TTO) (Fifth Amendment) Order of September, 1999. The Regulation was quashed by the Delhi High Court on 17th January, 2000 and thus the CPP regime as envisaged could not be implemented. The Court also clarified that TRAI may consider whether the CPP regime or a free incoming call regime can be introduced within the terms and conditions of the existing licences and within the policy as framed by the Government.
(c) Government has since amended the relevant licence condition which has cleared the way for implementation of CPP regime. TRAI had issued a consultation paper which discusses the desirability of the scheme or otherwise, tariff related and technical issues related to CPP. The consultation process has not been completed as yet. TRAI will take a view on the matter, after completion of the consultation process in due course.