TRAI seeks powers to levy penalty and jail term on executives of telecom companies

TRAI has sought powers from DoT to levy a penalty of up to Rs 100 million and a jail term of up to two years on executives of telecom companies that fail to meet the regulations set by it. To this end, the regulator has sought an amendment in Section 29 of the TRAI Act, 1997 to include a penalty as well as a jail term for offenders. TRAI has further proposed that in case the violation continues, there should be a provision for imposing an additional fine that can be extended to Rs 1.5 million for each day, till the default continues.