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March 6, 1998

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Light Again!

DoT can now process ISP applications. But licenses Email this story to a friend.
will have to await a final court order.

The Delhi high court has lifted the stay imposed by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India and allowed the Department of Telecommunications to sell and process application forms to private parties intending to provide Internet services.

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However, Justice Usha Mehra ruled in her interim order that licences for Internet services could be granted only after the court has pronounced a final judgement on the matter.

Overruling the TRAI's order that restrained DoT from selling or processing licences to private parties, Justice Mehra made her interim order of Thursday subject to the final order.

The case comes up for further hearing on April 13.

Hearing DoT's appeal against the stay, the counsel for DoT submitted that the TRAI had no jurisdiction to entertain such a matter or pass any such order.

Meanwhile, official sources said the sale of application forms would begin immediately.

On January 15, DoT had issued licence agreements with detailed terms and conditions for Internet service providers, following up on the new Internet policy guidelines announced by the government last November.

But after the TRAI issued its order, the sale of application forms, which was to begin on February 18, was held in abeyance.

On March 3, the judge had stayed all proceedings before the TRAI regarding the Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited's entry into cellular services in the Delhi and Bombay circles.

She said the MTNL may carry out preliminary work at its own risk, but the operation of its service would be subject to the outcome of the petition.

UNI

Earlier:

The Jinx: After months of delay, the Internet policy was finalised on January 15. Now it stands at the crossroads once again. The TRAI has struck it down along with MTNL's cellular plans.

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