Push TRAI amendment Bill: FM to Raja

Pranab Mukherjee has asked A Raja to complete the ground work on the TRAI Bill.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has asked Telecom Minister A Raja to complete the ground work on the TRAI (Amendment) Bill,2008 on relaxing rules for appointment of regulators so that it could be taken up for consideration in the winter session of Parliament.

The amendment will allow even those who resigned from Government services to apply for jobs in TRAI.

The Department of Telecom had earlier suggested that non-Government experts be allowed to apply for the posts. At present,only Government officials of Additional Secretary or Secretary or any equivalent post in the Central or State Government for a period of three years are eligible.

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The Bill said “The provisions of TRAI Act of 1997 has been considered as unreasonable,inconsistent and having no nexus with the object of finding an appropriate person to be appointed as Chairperson or Member of the TRAI.”

Further it said a person even with excellent track record outside government jobs were not eligible under section 4 of the TRAI Act,1997,if they had not held the post of Secretary or Additional Secretary or equivalent rank in the Central or the State Government for at least three years.