'Comprehensive Act needed for telecom'

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has asked a newly-formed committee to re-examine whether a single comprehensive Act was needed covering all the matters related to telecommunications, information technology and broadcasting. This would be done by merging the Indian Telegraph Act, the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, the Telegraph Wires (Unlawful Possession) Act, the Information Technology Act.

The new panel will decide if the proposal for the single comprehensive Act "is to be accepted or not", according to a recent discussion of the DoT.

The panel was needed according to DoT, as an earlier committee reviewed the recommendations of the one-man committee comprising judge Shivraj Patil on the proposed amendments of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1985.

The latest committee, chaired by DoT Advisor Ram Yagya, is being asked to give its opinion regarding three other key points of the final recommendations - arbitration, definition of licence and definition of telecommunication, according to a recent discussion.

The earlier committee had proposed that the Centre shall have the privilege of processing, establishing, maintaining or working of telecom network.

It also proposed any railway company or the Indian Railways shall permit the government to establish and maintain a telegraph or telecom network upon any part of the land of the company or Indian railways, and shall give every reasonable facility for working of the same.

The Committee has also said that the government shall not be responsible for any loss or damage which may occur in consequence of any telecom officer failing in his duty with respect to the receipt, transmission or delivery of any message, and no such officer shall be responsible for any such loss or damage, unless he causes the same negligently, maliciously or fraudulently.