Telangana HC Chief Justice Stresses Need for Timely, Expert Dispute Resolution in Tech & Telecom Sectors

Hyderabad: Telangana High Court Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh on Saturday stressed the need for timely and expert dispute resolution in sectors such as telecom, broadcasting, airport tariffs and cyber technology. He said specialised tribunals were important to handle technically complex regulatory disputes.

Speaking at a seminar, “Mechanisms for Resolution of Disputes in Airport Tariffs, Telecom, Broadcasting and Cyber Sectors”, Justice Singh traced the growth of specialised dispute resolution mechanisms in the telecom sector following the entry of private players after liberalisation. The creation of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) in 1997 and the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) in 2000 were key developments, he said.

Justice Singh also noted that TDSAT’s jurisdiction later expanded to broadcasting, cable services and airport tariff matters. He stressed that specialised adjudication must remain subject to judicial review and the rule of law, referring to the Supreme Court’s ruling in ‘L. Chandra Kumar v. Union of India’.

TDSAT chairperson Justice D.N. Patel, former Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, said the tribunal played an important role in providing specialised and time-bound remedies. He also explained the mechanism for cyber disputes under the Information Technology Act.

He stated that claims for compensation of up to `5 crore were handled initially by designated adjudicating officers, while TDSAT hears appeals against their orders. Claims above `5 crore fell outside their jurisdiction and were dealt with by competent civil courts. Justice Patel called for greater awareness among police officials, income-tax department authorities, regulators, lawyers, and other stakeholders about these provisions, and highlighted mediation and voluntary settlements as useful ways of resolving specialised disputes.