About Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal:
- It was established by amending the TRAI Act of 1997 in the year 2000.
- It was set up to adjudicate disputes and dispose of appeals with a view to protect the interests of service providers and consumers of the telecom sector and to promote and ensure orderly growth of the telecom sector.
- Composition of TDSAT
- It consists of a Chairperson and two Members appointed by the Central Government.
- Eligibility:
- Chairperson: The Chairperson should be or should have been a Judge of the Supreme Court or the Chief Justice of a High Court.
- Other member: They should have held the post of Secretary to the Government of India or any equivalent post in the Central Government or the State Government for a period of not less than two years or a person who is well versed in the field of technology, telecommunication, industry, commerce or administration.
- Tenure of office: The Chairperson of the tribunal shall hold office for a term of maximum four years or till the age of seventy years, whichever is earlier.
- Other members hold office for four years or till the age sixty-five years, whichever is earlier.
- Powers and Jurisdiction of TDSAT
- It exercises jurisdiction over Telecom, Broadcasting, IT and Airport tariff matters under the TRAI Act, 1997, the Information Technology Act, 2008 and the Airport Economic Regulatory Authority of India Act, 2008.
- It exercises original as well as appellate jurisdiction in regard to Telecom, Broadcasting and Airport tariff matters.
- In regard to Cyber matters the Tribunal exercises only the appellate jurisdiction.
- In January 2004, the Government included broadcasting and cable services also within the purview of TRAI Act. After coming into force of the relevant provisions of the Finance Act 2017, the jurisdiction of TDSAT stands extended to matters that lay before the Cyber Appellate Tribunal and also the Airport Economic Regulatory Authority Appellate Tribunal.
