TDSAT tells TRAI to respond within 10 days; Airtel files separate complaint with the

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has been further given ten days to file a response on four key questions raised by the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT). The four key questions relate to the appeal filed by Airtel against TRAI’s order allowing Reliance Jio to carry on with its promotional offers..Airtel had, in December last year filed an appeal against the TRAI order dated October 20, 2016, which gave Reliance Jio a clean chit, from any alleged violation of the various TRAI tariff orders and directives as well as the TRAI Interconnection Usage Charges Regulations. By an order dated January 6, 2017, the TDSAT had directed TRAI to file its reply within two weeks..Meanwhile, Idea has also tagged along by filing appeal against the said TRAI order, which is now being heard along with Airtel’s appeal..The delayed response filed by TRAI last week merely validated it’s earlier findings by reiterating that there has been no violation as alleged by Airtel. This order was again challenged by Airtel which was heard along with the main appeal yesterday..TDSAT has prima facie raised four primary questions, which TRAI needs to respond to:.(i) Whether RJio had informed that the ‘Welcome Offer’ is separate from the ‘Happy New Year Offer’ which was announced on 4 December of last year ;.(ii) Whether the subscribers were informed about the difference in the above two plans and if their consent was taken;.(iii) How were the offers filed before the TRAI and;.(iv) Whether the implementation of both the plans offered by RJio are in compliance with TRAI’s tariff orders and consumer protection regulations..TDSAT has ordered TRAI to revert on these questions by February 15 in the form of an affidavit. The next hearing is scheduled for February 20..Senior Advocate Gopal Jain along with Harsh Kaushik are representing Airtel, Senior Advocate Soli Cooper along with Marezban P. Bharucha are appearing for Idea; meanwhile ASG Tushar Mehta along with Kirtiman Singh are appearing for TRAI..In the meanwhile, Airtel has also moved the Competition Commission of India against Reliance Jio Infocomm and Reliance Industries, for allegedly having entered into an anti-competitive agreement..In a letter dated 2 February to CCI, Airtel has accused Reliance Jio of “indulging in abuse of dominant position”, predatory pricing by offering free services, and adversely affecting competition by way of predatory pricing, anti-competitive behaviour and activities.