Reliance calls on TDSAT to settle bills with BSNL

Seeking to recover Rs 85 crore from state-run BSNL, telecom major Reliance Communications has filed an appeal before TDSAT in a dispute pertaining to payment of interconnect usage charges.

Acting on the appeal, the Telecom Dispute Settlement and Appellate Authority issued notices to BSNL and the department of telecommunication (DoT).

The dispute pertains to payment of interconnect usage charge (IUC) under an agreement in January 23, 2003 for interconnectivity in different circles reached between the telecom PSU and the private company, then called Reliance Infocomm.

In its appeal, Reliance prayed for a direction from the tribunal to BSNL to settle bills (worth Rs 85 crore) raised by it and waive a Rs 6.82 crore fine imposed on it by BSNL.

The Rs 85 crore that Reliance seeks to recover from BSNL includes a Rs 13.82 crore "excess" payment made by the private company to the telecom PSU.

"Declare and direct the respondent (BSNL) to refrain to transfer inter circle calls as wired routed calls and set aside the demands raised by them in this regard," said RIL.

Reliance Communications also prayed for a direction to BSNL to repay Rs 19.38 crore paid by it towards non-roaming calls under the agreement as well as a direction to the PSU to provide the full details of the billing records of calls terminating at BSNL'S network for verification purpose.

The tribunal, which is on vacation, will hear the matter in the first week of July.