Supreme Court Dismisses PIL For Internet Price Regulation, Petitioner Named Naming Reliance Jio & Airtel

Highlights

• The Supreme Court dismissed a PIL seeking regulation of internet prices.
• The Court granted the petitioner the liberty to explore other legal remedies.
• The petition led by Rajat named DoT, TRAI, Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel as respondents.
• The petitioner argued that Reliance Jio dominates the market with an 80% share.

The Supreme Court today dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that sought regulation of internet prices. However, the court granted the petitioner the liberty to explore alternative legal remedies.

The case was heard by a bench led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar.

The petitioner Rajat had named the Department of Telecommunication (DoT), the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), Reliance Jio, and Bharti Airtel as respondents in the petition.

During the hearing, the bench pointed out that consumers have multiple options for internet services. “It’s a free market and there is a local area network, you get wired internet, BSNL and MTNL are also giving you the internet,” the bench stated.

However, the petitioner argued that while alternatives exist, Reliance Jio dominates the market with an 80% share.

In response, the Chief Justice suggested that if the petitioner was alleging cartelization, the matter should be taken to the Competition Commission of India (CCI) instead. “No please, then go to the Competition Commission of India,” he remarked.

Dismissing the petition in order, the court ruled, “We are not inclined to entertain the present petition under Article 32 of the Constitution of India, petition is dismissed. We however clarify that in case the petitioner wants to take any recourse to appropriate statutory remedy he is at liberty to do so, we make no comments in this regard.”

FAQs

Q1. What was the outcome of the PIL seeking regulation of internet prices in India?

Answer. The Supreme Court dismissed the PIL seeking regulation of internet prices but granted the petitioner the liberty to explore alternative legal remedies.

Q2. Who were the respondents named in the petition regarding internet price regulation?

Answer. The petition named the Department of Telecommunication (DoT), the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel as respondents.

Q3. What did the Supreme Court suggest to the petitioner of PIL seeking Internet price regulation?

Answer. The Supreme Court suggested that if the petitioner was alleging cartelisation, the matter should be taken to the Competition Commission of India (CCI).

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