Reliance Infocomm on Wednesday moved telecom tribunal TDSAT seeking a stay on penalty of Rs 150 crore (Rs 1.50 billion) imposed on it by the government for alleged illegal routing of international calls.

The Department of Telecom had imposed the penalty on Reliance Infocomm by a order on January 17, for routing incoming international calls as local ones, which had led to evasion of payment of levy by the private operator to Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL).

"Pending the hearing and disposal of the present petition, TDSAT should stay the enforcement of the DoT order of December 23, 2004 and January 17, 2005," Reliance Infocomm said in its petition filed with TDSAT.

The case comes up for hearing on Thursday. Reliance's move comes after DoT declined to reconsider its decision.