New Trai Board May Be Functional Next Week

THE NEW Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) board is likely to become functional from next week, nearly two months after it was disbanded.

Former SBI chairman, M S Verma is expected to join on March 23 as the chairman of the authority.

CBDT chairman, Ravi Kant who is scheduled to retire on March 31 and other members are also expected to join after the new chairman assumes office.

Mr Verma, Mr Kant and Mr R R N Prasad will be the full-time members on the board.

The Department of Telecomm unications (DoT) has also finalised the name of Professor V S Raju, director IIT Delhi, as a part-time member to replace the nomination of Dr N Seshagiri.

 

It may be recalled that Mr N Seshagiri, former National Informatics Centre director general, had turned down the offer to join TRAI as a part-time member. NCAER director general, Rakesh Mohan, who was also been appointed as a part-time member is to join by next week although he had also sought certain clarifications regarding his status.

R R N Prasad is the only member on the TRAI board who has been retained from the earlier panel. The amended TRAI Act has the provision for three full time members and two part-time members.

Meanwhile, a search is on to appoint members to the new telecom disputes settlement and appellate tribunal, especially with the passing of the TRAI Bill in Parliament. Highly-placed DoT sources said that the Chief Justice of India had sought certain clarifications on the empanelment.

The name of Supreme Court judge, Justice S C Sen, who also heads a consumer rights forum is doing the rounds for the chairman of the appellate tribunal.

The name of P S Saran, secretary Department of Telecom Services, is one of the contenders for the post of member of the tribunal. Sources said the third member is likely to be one with a strong background in finance.

Crucial issues like determining the terms and conditions of the opening up the domestic long distance sector are pending, as the TRAI is still to finally become functional. While TRAI's recommendations on the opening up of the long distance sector have been sent to the DoT, the final terms are yet to be referred back to the TRAI for its comments.