Madras High Court issues notice to telecom operators about SMS rate hikes

After hearing a petition regarding additional charges on SMSes during festival days, the Madras High Court has

issued a notice to TRAI and the regional managers of 10 telecom operators, directing them not to hike prices

during such periods.

The petition seeks an interim stay on what it calls “unfair” SMS rate hikes during festivals, hoping for it be put into

place by New Year’s eve. It further said such hikes, enforced when people most use the service, to be "fully

violating natural justice and rights given in the Constitution."

While the news certainly is heartening, we don’t expect much to come of it just yet, certainly not India-wide , or

even before the upcoming New Year’s celebration. Another hearing handling the admitted petition will be held on

January 21.

The list of telecom operators who’ve been issued notices by the Madras High Court: Aircel, Bharti Airtel, BSNL

Mobile, Idea, MTS, Reliance, Tata Indicom/Docomo, Uninor, Vodafone, and Videocon.

Source: ET

Rudz