Trai challenges 2 TDSAT judgements

Trai has challenged two judgements of TDSAT with regard to the former's jurisdiction on the issue of interconnection between BSNL and private telecom operators.

As per a TDSAT order, Trai cannot issue any guidelines on interconnection superceding the licence terms and conditions, and it should be left to the two operators to mutually negotiate within the norms.

On direct connectivity between BSNL and cellular operators, TDSAT had questioned Trai's powers even as it had asked BSNL not to charge 19 paise for transmitting cellular operators' calls on its network.

Pradip Baijal, chairman of Trai, said: "Yes, we have challenged these two judgements in the Supreme Court on various counts."

He, however, declined to elaborate on the matter, terming it subjudice, but said "we considered the judgements and challenged them."

The case is yet to be listed in the court for hearing, sources said.