Under attack for not acting tough on inter-connection disputes between public sector undertakings and private telecom operators, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India said on Thursday that it may approach the government or the Supreme Court for more powers.
In a bid to dispel the "general impression" that the regulator was not tough enough, Trai chairman Pradip Baijal said it may approach the government "to request that due amendments be made in the law".
"As the law stands today, Trai cannot help a dispute in the interconnection space. It is a question of statute that once there is a dispute even in inter-connection issue, Trai has no power," he said.
Baijal's comments come in the wake of Communist Party of India (Marxist) demanding his resignation accusing Trai of acting in connivance with the private operators like Reliance, which the Left party said had cost telecom PSUs about Rs 2000 crore (Rs 20 billion).
"Due to a TDSAT order, TRAI has no polling powers over disputes for which telecom tribunal TDSAT is currently the sole authority. But in the case of interconnection, the entire issue starts with a dispute, Baijal said.
"We are trying to deal with the situation to get a remedy. Either we will request that due amendment be made to the law or we will go to the Supreme Court. In inter-connection, general ruling is not applicable" he said adding no decision has yet been taken on the issue.
© 2026