Unsolicited calls: HC notice to Airtel

The Delhi High Court on Monday issued notices to telecom company Bharti Airtel, Cellular Operators Association of India and two private banks on an application seeking vacation of its interim order staying the state consumer commission verdict that had imposed a fine of Rs 75 lakhs on them for unsolicited calls and SMSs.

A bench headed by Justice Vikramjit Sen also issued notices to ICICI Bank and American Express Bank on advocate Nivedita Sharma's application and fixed March 28 as the next date of hearing.

Earlier, the Delhi State Consumer Commission had on Sharma's complaint imposed the penalty on them for causing "immense nuisance" by making unsolicited communications.

The Commission was critical of the fact that the information relating to subscribers, which was confidential and lying with mobile companies, was being passed on to telemarketing