Bill Summary

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2008

• The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2008 was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on December 15, 2008. The Bill was referred to the Standing Committee on Information Technology (Chairperson: Shri Nikhil Kumar), which is scheduled to submit its report by January 31, 2009.
   
• The Bill amends the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997, which set up the statutory body called Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).
   
• The Act states that the Chairperson and other members of TRAI shall be appointed by the central government among persons with knowledge and professional experience in the field of telecommunication, industry, finance, law, etc. It adds that a person in service of the government shall be appointed only if he is or has been a Secretary or Additional Secretary for a minimum term of three years.
   
• The Bill restricts this requirement to those government servants in service and those who left government service through superannuation. Former government employees who left service before superannuation do not need to meet this condition.

 

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