NEW DELHI, May 30: The Department of Telecommunications is in no mood to accept orders of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) with regard to any issue which challenges the DoT's role as a licensor. An indication to this effect was given by the Secretary DoT A V Gokak who was addressing mediapersons here today.

Gokak clearly stated that when the government set up the TRAI, it had done so while keeping the authority of the ``government as the licensor'' with itself.

He said that the DoT was currently reviewing the TRAI order of May 27, whereby the TRAI had stayed the encashment of bank guarantees of two companies Facsel (cellular) and Modi Korea (radio paging) on their inability to pay the licence fees to the DoT. Gokak stated that a final view on whether to approach the high court, questioning the jurisdiction of the TRAI would be taken shortly.

He said that as per the present policy, all licences in the telecom sector are legally done under the aegis of the director-general of telegraph.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.