Telecom tribunal TDSAT on Thursday asked public sector operator BSNL to restore connection to Bharti Airtel in parts of Bangalore, as sought by the latter, on payment of 65 per cent of the disputed sum.
The PSU had disconnected Bharti Airtel from its points of interconnection in Malleswaram, located in north-west Bangalore last week, over non payment of dues of Rs 66 crore.
During the proceedings on Thursday, TDSAT chairman Justice Arun Kumar directed BSNL to restore Airtel’s connection to its network within 48 hours of payment of Rs 35 crore.
BSNL had demanded "Rs 66.30 crore, out of which the petitioner (Airtel) has already paid Rs 4.7 crore... (It) would pay Rs 35 crore within two weeks from today and respondent (BSNL) is directed to restore POIs (point of interconnection)" Justice Kumar said.
If Airtel pays the amount earlier, then BSNL would have to restore POIs within 24 hours.
However, Justice Kumar declined Airtel’s plea for an immediate restoration as BSNL said it would not restore the connection without getting the money.
"It is a matter of disconnection. In such cases there is urgency to every one, even to us," submitted BSNL’s counsel, opposing Airtel’s plea to restore the POIs immediately on submission of an undertaking.
BSNL also rejected Airtel’s plea for restoration after payment of only 50 per cent of the disputed sum.
On this, TDSAT Chairmam told both telecom operators, "do not fight for a few crores".
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