Selection criteria for Trai officials to be amended

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is working on changing the criteria for selection of chairperson and other members of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai).

The proposal also includes increasing the chairperson’s tenure to five years from the current three years.

“DoT plans to bring the Amendment Bill for changes in the Act in the current monsoon session of Parliament,” a senior official told Business Standard.

The department is keen on allowing non-government experts to apply for the posts. Currently, government officials who have held the posts of additional secretary or secretary or any equivalent post in the central or state government for a period of three years are eligible.

The amendment will allow people who left government service early to apply for jobs with the regulator. It will also remove inconsistency in the qualifications of the chairperson and other members of Trai.

“The issue of amendment in the Act is under consideration by the government. They have recently referred to us for our comments. We are considering the matter. We will tell the government what amendment we require. The regulator will continue to be guided by the Trai Act of 1997,” Trai Chairman J S Sarma said last week at an event organised by industry body Assocham.

The department has been working on the proposal for amendment in the Trai Act since long. Earlier, the regulator had also suggested changes in the Act to have more powers with itself. The Bill has to be approved by Parliament.

The official said the move would be in line with the selection criteria followed by other regulators such as the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority, Central Electricity Regulatory Commission and Securities and Exchange Board of India.