Question : INTRODUCTION OF SLAB BASED PENALTIES

(a) the details of penalties imposed on telecom operators for violation of Telecom Regulations and the amount realised by the Government therefrom during each of the last three years and the current year, operator-wise;

(b) whether certain telecom operators have approached the Government for rationalising penalties for violations of regulations and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has proposed introduction of slab based monetary fines for various categories of violations committed by telecom operators in the country;

(d) if so, the details thereof including the new structure of penalties; and

(e) the time by which a final decision in the matter is likely to be taken?

THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY & LAW AND JUSTICE (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

(a) to (e) 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 (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 370 FOR 4TH AUGUST, 2014 REGARDING “INTRODUCTION OF SLAB BASED PENALTIES”

(a) The operator-wise details of penalties imposed and penalties realized during the last three years and the current year are enclosed as Annexure-I. The difference in amount of penalty imposed and realized is primarily due to judicial interventions.

(b) Industry associations have represented to the Government from time to time regarding the penalty structure.

(c) to (e) The Department of Telecommunications is in the process of finalizing and notifying the graded penalty structure.