Asia Bizz: The Madhurai Bench of the Madras High Court on December 28, 2011 issued a notice to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) as well as to the telecom operators. The Madras High court has asked TRAI and the telecom operators for an explanation on the increase of SMS charges during the festive seasons in India.
Arunachalam had filed a petition in the court in which he stated that the service providers increase the charges of the SMS without any prior intimation to the subscribers and this causes inconvenience to them. The petitioner also said that through this practice, the telecom operators are fleecing the subscribers.
Justices S Rajeswaram and S Vimla, after hearing the petition, ordered issue of notices to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India as well as ten telecom firms. The case has been adjourned for January 21, 2012.
Arunachalam had demanded an interim stay on the hike of the SMS charges by the service providers, but the court refused the stay. The petitioner argued that during the festive season, the flow of the SMSs increases and the telecom operators take undue advantage of it. Arun said that this creates a big hole in the common man’s pocket and this prevents him to send greetings through SMSs.
