BSNL questions TRAI's jurisdiction

State-run BSNL has questioned the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's powers and jurisdiction in matters relating to interconnection between the PSU and other private service providers.

It has also challenged TRAI's show cause notice, which had alleged that BSNL did not adhere to the telecom regulator's directions, in TDSAT.

"The show cause notice is without jurisdiction, contrary to law and contrary to orders passed by TDSAT apart from being otherwise arbitrary, irrational and unsustainable," BSNL said in its petition and urged the Tribunal to set aside TRAI's show cause notice.

Interconnection is considered to be crucial for providing telecom services and TRAI has issued guidelines from time to time to enable two operators to sign interconnection agreements amicably.

BSNL had published its Reference Interconnection Order within the time prescribed by TDSAT with the changes as mutually agreed between the parties and adjudicated by the Tribunal and same cannot be alleged to be in violation of any regulations of TRAI, BSNL said.

According to TRAI show cause notice, BSNL published its RIO without obtaining prior approval of TRAI leading to violation of the regulator's directions and thus calls for an appropriate action under relevant clause of the TRAI Act.