The Ministry of Communications on August 28, 2024, issued the Draft Temporary Suspension of Telecommunication Services Rules, 2024.
These rules shall be in supersession of the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017 and Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Amendment) Rules, 2020 under Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, but shall not override the terms and conditions of existing orders relating to suspensions under those rules, which shall continue to apply till the date of expiry of the time period for suspension as specified in such order.
The following have been stated:
• The directions to suspend any telecommunication service or any class of telecommunication services under clause (b) of sub-section (2) of section 20, shall only be issued by a suspension order in writing, by a competent authority:
Provided that, where, due to unavoidable circumstances, it is not feasible for a suspension order to be issued by the competent authority, such suspension order may be issued by an officer, not below the rank of a Joint Secretary to the Central Government, who has been duly authorised by the competent authority:
Provided further, that a suspension order issued under the first proviso to sub-rule (1) shall be subject to its confirmation by the competent authority, within twenty-four (24) hours of issuance of such order, failing which the suspension order shall cease to exist.
• Each authorised entity shall designate a nodal officer for every service area, or state or union territory, to receive and implement the suspension order.
• Any suspension order shall be communicated in writing or through a secure electronic communication, to the nodal officer, by an officer not below the rank of Superintendent of Police.
All persons likely to be affected thereby and notice is hereby given that the said draft rules shall be taken into consideration after the expiry of a period of thirty days from the date on which copies of this notification as published in the Official Gazette, are made available to the public;
Objections or suggestions, if any, may be addressed to the Joint Secretary (Telecom), Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications, Government of India, Sanchar Bhawan, 20, Ashoka Road, New Delhi – 110001.
[Notification No. G.S.R. 519(E)]
