The Telecom Dispute Settlement and Appellate Tribunal on Thursday asked the government to file an affidavit stating why it objected to sharing documents that could explain how it allowed basic telecom operators to offer limited mobile services.
The TDSAT order came after the Cellular Operators Association of India demanded that files containing correspondence between the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India and the Department of Telecom should be produced so that the decision-making process was more transparent.
The counsel for DoT said the files could not be made public because they contained confidential material. If required, the counsel said, the files could be produced only for the benefit of the TDSAT bench and no one else.
Kapil Sibal, representing Reliance Infocomm, a prominent limited mobility player, also objected to the cellular operators' demand and said the files may be called for only after hearing both sides.
DoT will file its affidavit on Monday.
Meanwhile, the cellular operators finished their arguments today raising objections to the policy of allowing limited mobility. DoT has begun its defence and it will be followed by basic operators and then NGOs representing consumers.
Due to the hearing on limited mobility, the tribunal has rescheduled six other telecom cases by a week. These cases were slated for hearing on April 7, 8 and 9. The cases include those of BPL Mobile against Trai and that of Aircel Digilink against the government.
"The same (petitions) shall be listed in the week commencing April 21, 2003 with due notices to the parties," TDSAT said. The other cases which have been rescheduled include Hughes Tele.Com, also against the government.