(a) whether the Government has suffered a huge loss due to the illegal routing of international calls;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has made any claim on the erring parties;
(d) if so, the details thereof;
(e) the action taken by the Government against such parties; and
(f) the steps being taken by the Government to curb such practices by the service providers?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (DR. SHAKEEL AHMAD)
(a) to (f): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT TO BE LAID ON THE TABLE OF THE LOK SABHA IN RESPECT OF PARTS (a) TO (f) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 353 FOR 17TH MARCH, 2006 REGARDING ILLEGAL ROUTING OF INTERNATIONAL CALLS.
(a) to (f) Access Deficit Charge (ADC) is not payable to the Government. One of the operators namely M/s Reliance Infocomm Ltd. (RIL) avoided the payment of ADC mainly to Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd. (MTNL) by way of delivery of International Long Distance (ILD) Calls at incorrect ports by adopting technical measures during 2004.
As per provisions of interconnect agreements, BSNL and MTNL had raised a demand of Rs. 319.04 crores and Rs. 341.28 crores respectively on M/s Reliance Infocomm Ltd. for delivery of international calls at incorrect points. M/s RIL has paid the amount in full.
M/s RIL`s appeal is pending before the Division Bench of Hon`ble High Court of Delhi for adjudication as BSNL has filed an SLP before the Hon`ble Supreme Court of India to decide adjudicatory authority. Hon`ble Supreme Court of India in its order dated 28.03.2005 has directed to stay the proceedings before Hon`ble High Court of Delhi.
The Government issued the Show Cause Notices for violation of Unified Access Service Licences of Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkatta Service Areas and after examining the replies of M/s RIL in this case, took a considered decision and levied a penalty of Rs. 50 crores each of the three licences. M/s RIL filed a petition in the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT), against the decision of the Government, which was dismissed. M/s RIL paid the penalty of Rs. 150 crores in March, 2005. M/s Reliance Infocomm Ltd. has filed an appeal in the Hon`ble Supreme Court of India against the judgment of the TDSAT upholding the penalty of Rs. 150 crores and matter is subjudice.