Jayalalithaa requests waiver of spectrum charges on Police Radio Network

Seeks the Centre to revisit the policy of levying spectrum charges on police radio network

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has requested the Government of India to exempt State Police Departments from payment of Spectrum Charges and to waive Rs 140.83 crore levied for this and late late fees on the State government by urgently reviewing the issue.

The Chief Minister, in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requested the centre to revisit the issue of levying Spectrum Charges on the Police Radio Network, which, she said, is an ill advised move of the previous United Progressive Alliance Government.

The frequencies used for the police communication networks are allotted by the Wireless Planning and Co-ordination Wing (WPC) of the Department of Telecommunications under the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Government of India. Till June 1, 2004, the State Police Departments were paying a nominal License Fee of Rs 100 per set and after this, the Spectrum Charges which include License fees for each communication set and royalty charges for the use of frequency by wireless sets are being levied on the Police Departments.

The State government has raised the issue since 2005. Despite the request of waivers and even before the issue of outstanding dues of State Police Departments, including Rs 73.10 crore which was outstanding as Spectrum Charges and late fees from Tamil Nadu could be resolved, the Spectrum Charges were revised again and increased almost threefold with effect from April 1, 2012. The annual Spectrum Charges payable by Tamil Nadu now amount to Rs 13 crore.

The Wireless Planning and Co-ordination Wing of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology continues to charge 2 per cent per month as late fees for delayed remittance of Spectrum Charges and the Directorate of Co-ordination, Police Wireless, Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi, has further indicated that the request for any fresh assignments or issue of operating licenses including import licenses for wireless and communication equipment will not be considered till the full payment of Spectrum Charges is made, she said.

The Wireless Planning and Co-ordination Wing has intimated on August 14, 2014 that the Spectrum Charges payable for frequencies allotted to the Tamil Nadu Police amounts to Rs 140.83 crore, inclusive of late fee. The Principal Secretary, Home, Government of Tamil Nadu, has yet again taken up the issue of waiver of Spectrum Charges with the Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, in a letter dated September 4, 2014.

"In a situation where financial constraints stand in the way of the efforts of State Governments to further modernize and upgrade the Police Force and Central assistance through the scheme for modernization of the Police Force has been substantially reduced, any financial burden on the use of modern technology in policing is difficult for State Governments to meet," said Jayalalithaa.

Policing is an essential sovereign function of the State and charging such exorbitant amounts for the use of Radio Frequency for what is clearly a sovereign and public purpose is completely unjustified and unwarranted. The Police Radio Network is also used extensively in cases of natural calamities and for the maintenance of public order. Such heavy Spectrum Charges will prevent the Department from investing in essential infrastructure upgradation and modernisation, she argued.

"Hence I request that the Government of India must revisit the issue of levying Spectrum Charges on the Police Radio Network which is an ill advised move of the previous UPA Government, and exempt State Police Departments from payment of Spectrum Charges. I also request you to instruct the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology to urgently review the issue and waive Rs.140.83 crores levied as Spectrum Charges and late fees on the Government of Tamil Nadu," she added.