(a) whether instructions have been issued to the telecom operators for strict compliance
with regard to the identification of documents supplied by subscribers;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Ministry of Home Affairs has directed strict compliance
of the verification norms due to security reasons;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI MILIND DEORA)
(a) Yes, Madam.
(b) Instructions have been issued to Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) to verify the
customer with his/her photograph and to verify the Proof of Address (PoA) and Proof of
Identity (Pol) with the respective originals before providing any telephone connection.
(c) & (d) Communications have been received from MHA at various point of times emphasizing the need
to have a fool proof arrangement for providing pre-paid as well as post-paid connections so that the
SIM cards are issued with proper verification of subscriber and his/her documents.
(e) Department of Telecom (DoT) has issued instructions to TSPs to verify the customer with his/her photograph
and to verify the Proof of Address (PoA) and Proof of Identity (Pol) with the respective originals before
providing any telephone connection. Telecom Enforcement Resource and Monitoring (TERM) Cells (field units
of DoT) are carrying out sample verification of Customer Application Forms (CAFs) on monthly basis to monitor
the compliance of these instructions. Penalties are being imposed on TSPs against non-compliant cases.