The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has told the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) can not question the method of calculation of penalty at this stage saying that operators have not paid the full percent penalty imposed on them for failing to reverify prepaid connections in Assam and North East circles. 

The operators who have been asked to pay the penalty are - Bharti Airtel, Vodafone, Dishnet Wireless (Aircel), Reliance Telecom, Idea Cellular and Bharti Hexacom. 

"Operators can not go back from the interim order" said Additional Solicitor General A S Chandiok who represented DoT.

In its January ruling TDSAT had asked the telecom operators to pay 25 per cent of the penalty imposed by DoT for not re-verifing prepaid connections in Assam and North East circles. However, later the operators were told to pay 100 per cent of the penalty. 

DoT told TDSAT telecom service providers failed to pay the penalty in spite of the latter’s ruling.  

The telcos represented by Navin Chawla, however responded saying that there is some disagreement on the calculation of the part of the penalty. The operators had paid most of the penalty, he said. 

At this Chandiok said that the operators have to pay penalty as per the TDSAT ruling and there is no way they can question the penalty and the methods of calculate at this stage, A two-member TDSAT bench headed by its Chairman Justice S B Sinha said that it would pass a written order in this regard.