Date:24/02/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/02/24/stories/2005022402881300.htm

National

More stringent punishment for illegal telecom operators mooted

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, FEB. 23. The Telecom Department has recommended that the Government amend the Telegraph Act so that the legal provision is more stringent for grey market operators, the Senior Deputy Director-General (Vigilance), Vigilance Telecom Monitoring, G.S. Grover, said on Monday.

Speaking to presspersons, he said at present the crime was non-cognisable and bailable and the penalty was also little. It had been recommended that the offence be made cognisable and the penalty raised to Rs. 5 lakhs. However, he said the Law Ministry should approve the changes recommended.

Mr. Grover said the notional loss caused by grey market operators in the country since 1998 was Rs. 400 crores.

Hyderabad had the highest number of cases pertaining to grey market operations followed by Chennai, Gujarat, Punjab and Mumbai.

With the increased number of telecom operators, the Government had set up vigilance telecom monitoring (VTM) cells in Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai and these were working as extended wings of vigilance.

The cells would coordinate with all service providers to curb illegal operations, Mr. Grover said.

The VTMs and the vigilance had busted 48 illegal operations since November last, of which 29 were in the South.

Eighteen were in Chennai. Licences of five Internet service providers had been cancelled. Steps were being taken to cancel the licences of two more.

A grey market call is one, which is routed through illegal channels.