TDSAT: Blank call

The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) may turn member-less next week. It has already been headless for over two months now. The tribunal, which was set up under Section 14 of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) Act, is meant to protect the interests of service providers and telecom consumers. TDSAT must have a chairman and two members, according to the Trai Act. But it functioned with just a chairman and one member for several months. Then, since the last chairman, S B Sinha, retired in November 2012, only one member (technical), P K Rastogi, has been holding the fort. But his term ends on February 16. Although the TDSAT site is flashing tenders for hiring housekeepers and cleaners and a notice for appointing a joint advisor on deputation basis, there’s silence on the top jobs at the tribunal that came into being in May 2000.