Court directs telcos to strictly implement TRAI regulations to curb unsolicited communication

Indian digital financial services platform, Paytm, has achieved a milestone to protect the digital infrastructure from phishing attacks.

The Honourable Delhi High Court today in response to a writ petition filed by Paytm Payments Bank Ltd (PPBL) & One97 Communications (OCL) ordered TRAI and Telcos to strictly implement regulations to curb unsolicited commercial communication to safeguard innocent users. The court further directed all telecom operators (as access providers) in the country to adhere to the guidelines set by TRAI and take appropriate action against registered and unregistered telemarketers making or enabling fraudulent calls & SMSs.

As highly sensitive to its customer concerns, PPBL and OCL had last year filed a writ petition in Delhi High Court seeking legal, policy regulatory directive to restrict the access of fraudsters from the bulk SMS packages sending fake messages and calls impersonating as Paytm companies. The petition highlighted that such fraudulent calls and SMSes not only result in a financial loss to its customers but also severely damages the reputation of Paytm as a brand.

Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) had supported Paytm and filed an intervention representing many Payments System Operators (PSOs) to support stringent implementation of TCCCPR and building secure Digital payments experience resulting in acceleration of adoption of digital payments.

Satish Kumar Gupta, CEO & Managing Director, Paytm Payments Bank Ltd said, “Today’s decision by the Honourable Court will go a long way in safeguarding millions of Indians in the country who make digital payments and other online transactions. We strongly believe that all of us including regulator, government and access providers have to come together to fight the menace of fraudulent calls and SMSs in the country. We are sanguine that Telcos will abide by the court’s order in true spirit. This is important to further reinforce the trust of citizens in digital transactions and help in building a truly digital and AtmaNirbhar Bharat.”

The strict and proper implementation of TCCCPR will ensure access of Bulk SMS capacity to only Registered TeleMarketers (RTMs) and no unauthorized telemarketer or principal entities will be able to send any phishing SMSes and calls to users of Digital financial services.