Executive Summary:
This document outlines rules for the temporary suspension of telecom services due to public emergencies or public safety, as authorized by the Indian Telegraph Act of 1885. It specifies the authorities who can issue suspension orders, the process for conveying these orders, and the establishment of review committees to assess the appropriateness of the suspensions. The rules came into effect on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette, August 7, 2017.
Key Points / Main Content:
Issuance of Suspension Orders:
* Orders to suspend telecom services must be issued by the Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of Home Affairs or the Secretary to the State Government in charge of the Home Department.
* In unavoidable circumstances, an officer not below the rank of Joint Secretary, authorized by the Union Home Secretary or State Home Secretary, may issue the order.
* Orders issued by an authorized officer require confirmation from the competent authority within 24 hours; failure to receive confirmation within this timeframe nullifies the suspension order.
* All orders must contain reasons for the suspension and be forwarded to the concerned Review Committee by the next working day.
Communication of Suspension Orders:
* Suspension orders must be conveyed in writing or via secure electronic communication to designated officers of the telegraph authority or service providers.
* The communication must be sent by an officer not below the rank of Superintendent of Police or equivalent.
* The telegraph authority determines the mode of secure electronic communication and its implementation.
Responsibilities of Telegraph Authority and Service Providers:
* The telegraph authority and service providers must designate nodal officers in each licensed service area, State, or Union territory to receive and handle suspension requests.
Review Committee:
* Central and State Governments must establish Review Committees.
* The Central Government Review Committee includes the Cabinet Secretary (Chairman), the Secretary Incharge of Legal Affairs, and the Secretary of the Department of Telecommunications.
* The State Government Review Committee includes the Chief Secretary (Chairman), the Secretary of Law or Legal Remembrancer Incharge of Legal Affairs, and a Secretary to the State Government other than the Home Secretary.
* The Review Committee must convene within five working days of the issuance of a suspension order to determine if the order complies with subsection 2 of section 5 of the Indian Telegraph Act.
Impact Analysis:
Central Government:
* Impact: Must constitute a Review Committee with specified members. The Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of Home Affairs is authorized to issue suspension orders.
* Action Required: Establish the Review Committee and ensure adherence to the rule when issuing suspension orders.
State Government:
* Impact: Must constitute a Review Committee with specified members. The Secretary to the State Government in charge of the Home Department is authorized to issue suspension orders.
* Action Required: Establish the Review Committee and ensure adherence to the rules when issuing suspension orders.
Telegraph Authority/Service Providers:
* Impact: Required to designate nodal officers to receive and handle suspension requisitions. Must comply with suspension orders.
* Action Required: Designate nodal officers and implement suspension orders as directed.
Review Committee (Central and State):
* Impact: Responsible for reviewing suspension orders and determining compliance with the Indian Telegraph Act.
* Action Required: Convene within five working days of the issue of directions for suspension and record findings.
Key Entities Referenced
Indian Telegraph Act, 1885: The primary legislation authorizing the Central Government to regulate telegraph services in India, cited as the basis for the new rules.
Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services Public Emergency or Public Safety Rules, 2017: The official name of the rules being introduced to regulate the temporary suspension of telecom services.
Ministry of Home Affairs: The Union ministry whose Secretary, or authorized Joint Secretary, can issue orders to suspend telecom services for the Government of India.
Secretary to the Government of India: The designated authority within the Ministry of Home Affairs who can issue orders to suspend telecom services at the national level.
State Government: Refers to the government of an individual state within India. The Secretary in-charge of the Home Department can issue suspension orders within their respective state.
Union Home Secretary: The administrative head of the Ministry of Home Affairs, who can authorize officers to issue suspension orders.
State Home Secretary: The administrative head of the Home Department of a State Government, who can authorize officers to issue suspension orders within the state.
Department of Telecommunications: A department under the Ministry of Communications, represented in the Central Government's Review Committee by its Secretary.
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EXTRAORDINARY
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PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (i)
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PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
la- 679] ubZ fnYyh] eaxyokj] vxLr 8] 2017@Jko.k 17] 1939
No. 679] NEW DELHI, TUESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2017/SRAVANA 17, 1939
सचं ार म(cid:7074)ं ालय
(दरू संचार िवभाग)
अिधसूचना
नई िदल्ली, 7 अगस् त, 2017
सा.का.िन. 998(अ).—केन्(cid:7076)ीय सरकार, भारतीय तार अिधिनयम, 1885 (1885 का 13) (िजसे इसम(cid:7286) इसके
पश् चात् उक् त अिधिनयम कहा गया ह)ै की धारा 7 (cid:7367)ारा (cid:7079)द(cid:7275) शि(cid:7334)य(cid:7298) का (cid:7079)योग करते हुए, लोक आपात या लोक सुरक्षा के
कारण दरू संचार सेवा(cid:7312) के अस्थायी िनलंबन का िविनयमन करने के िलए िन(cid:7388)िलिखत िनयम बनाती ह,ै अथार्त्:-
1. (1) इन िनयम(cid:7298) का संिक्ष(cid:7385) नाम दरू संचार अस्थायी सेवा िनलंबन (लोक आपात या लोक सुरक्षा) िनयम, 2017 ह ै।
(2) ये राजप(cid:7074) म(cid:7286) उनके (cid:7079)काशन की तारीख को (cid:7079)वृ(cid:7275) ह(cid:7298)गे ।
2. (1) दरू संचार सेवा(cid:7312) को िनलंिबत करने के िलए िनदेश भारत सरकार के मामले म(cid:7286) भारत सरकार के गृह मं(cid:7074)ालय
के सिचव (cid:7367)ारा या राज्य सरकार के मामले म(cid:7286) गृह िवभाग के राज्य सरकार के भार साधक सिचव (िजसे इसम(cid:7286) इसके
प(cid:7391)ात् सक्षम (cid:7079)ािधकारी कहा गया ह)ै , (cid:7367)ारा िकए गए आदशे (cid:7367)ारा ही जारी िकए जाएंगे अन्यथा नह(cid:7277) और
अपिरहायर् पिरिस्थितय(cid:7298) म(cid:7286), जहां पूवर् िनदेश अिभ(cid:7079)ा(cid:7385) करना (cid:7390)वहायर् नह(cid:7277) ह,ै वहां ऐसा आदशे ऐसे िकसी
अिधकारी (cid:7367)ारा, जो भारत सरकार के संयु(cid:7334) सिचव की पंि(cid:7334) से नीचे का न हो, िजसे, यथािस्थित, केन्(cid:7076)ीय गृह
सिचव या राज्य गृह सिचव (cid:7367)ारा सम्यकतः (cid:7079)ािधकृत िकया गया हो, (cid:7367)ारा जारी िकया जा सकेगा :
परंतु केन्(cid:7076)ीय गृह सिचव या राज्य गृह सिचव (cid:7367)ारा (cid:7079)ािधकृत अिधकारी (cid:7367)ारा जारी दरू संचार सेवा(cid:7312) के
िनलंबन के िलए आदशे , ऐसे आदशे के जारी िकए जाने के चौबीस घंटे के भीतर सक्षम (cid:7079)ािधकारी से (cid:7079)ा(cid:7385) पुि(cid:7397) के
अध्यधीन होगा :
परंतु यह और िक दरू संचार सेवा(cid:7312) के िनलंबन का आदशे उ(cid:7334) चौबीस घंटे की अविध के भीतर सक्षम
(cid:7079)ािधकारी की पुि(cid:7397) के (cid:7079)ा(cid:7385) न होने की दशा म(cid:7286) अिस्तत्वहीन हो जाएगा ।
4764 GI/2017 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(i)]
(2) उप-िनयम (1) के अधीन सक्षम (cid:7079)ािधकारी (cid:7367)ारा जारी िकए गए आदेश म(cid:7286), ऐसे िनदशे के िलए कारण अन्तिवर्(cid:7397)
ह(cid:7298)गे और ऐसे आदशे की (cid:7079)ित अगले कायर् िदवस तक सम्ब(cid:7373) पुनिवर्लोकन सिमित को अ(cid:7061)ेिषत की जाएगी ।
(3) उप-िनयम (1) के अधीन जारी िकए गए िनलंबन के िलए िनदशे तार (cid:7079)ािधकारी के पदािभिहत अिधकािरय(cid:7298) को
या ऐसे सेवा (cid:7079)दाता(cid:7312), िजन् ह (cid:7286) उ(cid:7334) अिधिनयम की धारा 4 के अधीन अनुज्ञि(cid:7385)यां अनुद(cid:7275) की गई ह,(cid:7289) के पदािभिहत
अिधकािरय(cid:7298) को, पुिलस अधीक्षक की पंि(cid:7334) या समतुल्य पंि(cid:7334) से अन्यून अिधकारी (cid:7367)ारा िलिखत म(cid:7286) या सुरिक्षत
इलैक्(cid:7069)ॉिनक संसूचना (cid:7367)ारा सूिचत िकए जाएंगे और सुरिक्षत इलैक्(cid:7069)ॉिनक संसूचना और उसके कायार्न्वयन का ढंग
तार (cid:7079)ािधकारी (cid:7367)ारा अवधािरत िकया जाएगा ।
(4) तार (cid:7079)ािधकारी और सेवा (cid:7079)दाता, यथािस्थित, (cid:7079)त्येक अनुज्ञ(cid:7385) सेवा क्षे(cid:7074) या राज्य या संघ राज्यक्षे(cid:7074) म(cid:7286)
अिधकािरय(cid:7298) को दरू संचार सेवा(cid:7312) के िनलंबन के िलए ऐसी अध्यपेक्षा(cid:7312) को (cid:7079)ा(cid:7385) करने और उन पर कारर्वाई करने
के िलए नोडल अिधकािरय(cid:7298) के रूप म(cid:7286) पदािभिहत कर(cid:7286)गे ।
(5) यथािस्थित, केन्(cid:7076)ीय सरकार या राज्य सरकार पुनिवर्लोकन सिमित का गठन करेगी ।
(i) केन्(cid:7076)ीय सरकार (cid:7367)ारा गिठत की जाने वाली पुनिवर्लोकन सिमित िन(cid:7388)िलिखत से िमलकर बनेगी, अथार्त् :-
(क) मंि(cid:7074)मंडल सिचव -अध्यक्ष
(ख) भारत सरकार के िविध कायर् िवभाग के भारसाधक सिचव - सदस्य
(ग) भारत सरकार के दरू संचार िवभाग के सिचव -सदस्य
(ii) राज्य सरकार (cid:7367)ारा गिठत की जाने वाली पुनिवर्लोकन सिमित िन(cid:7388)िलिखत से िमलकर बनेगी, अथार्त् :-
(क) मुख्य सिचव -अध्यक्ष
(ख) भारसाधक िविध सिचव या िविध परामश(cid:7278)-िविध कायर् -सदस्य
(ग) सिचव, राज्य सरकार (गृह सिचव से िभ(cid:7382)) -सदस्य
(6) पुनिवर्लोकन सिमित लोक आपात या लोक सुरक्षा के कारण सेवा(cid:7312) के िनलंबन के िलए िनदशे जारी करने के
पांच कायर् िदवस(cid:7298) के भीतर बैठक करेगी और इस बारे म(cid:7286) अपने िनष्कषर् अिभिलिखत करेगी िक क्या उप-िनयम (1)
के अधीन जारी िकए गए िनदशे उ(cid:7334) अिधिनयम की धारा 5 की उप-धारा (2) के उपबंध(cid:7298) के अनुसार ह(cid:7289) ।
[फा. सं. 800-37/2016-एएस.II]
(cid:7079)मोद कुमार िम(cid:7275)ल, विर(cid:7399) उप-महािनदशे क (एएस)
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
(Department of Telecommunications)
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 7th August, 2017
G.S.R. 998(E).—In exercise of the powers conferred by section 7 of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885
(13 of 1885) (hereinafter referred to as the said Act), the Central Government hereby makes the following
rules to regulate the temporary suspension of telecom services due to public emergency or public safety,
namely:-
1. (1) These rules may be called the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or
Public Safety) Rules, 2017.
(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
2. (1) Directions to suspend the telecom services shall not be issued except by an order made by the
Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of Home Affairs in the case of Government of¹Hkkx IIμ[k.M 3 (i)º Hkkjr dk jkti=k % vlk/kj.k 3
India or by the Secretary to the State Government in-charge of the Home Department in the case of
a State Government (hereinafter referred to as the competent authority), and in unavoidable
circumstances, where obtaining of prior direction is not feasible, such order may be issued by an
officer, not below the rank of a Joint Secretary to the Government of India, who has been duly
authorised by the Union Home Secretary or the State Home Secretary, as the case may be:
Provided that the order for suspension of telecom services, issued by the officer authorised by the
Union Home Secretary or the State Home Secretary, shall be subject to the confirmation from the
competent authority within 24 hours of issuing such order:
Provided further that the order of suspension of telecom services shall cease to exist in case of
failure of receipt of confirmation from the competent authority within the said period of 24 hours.
(2) Any order issued by the competent authority under sub-rule (1) shall contain reasons for such
direction and a copy of such order shall be forwarded to the concerned Review Committee latest by
next working day.
(3) The directions for suspension issued under sub-rule (1) shall be conveyed to designated officers of
the telegraph authority or to the designated officers of the service providers, who have been granted
licenses under section 4 of the said Act, in writing or by secure electronic communication by an
officer not below the rank of Superintendent of Police or of the equivalent rank and mode of secure
electronic communication and its implementation shall be determined by the telegraph authority.
(4) The telegraph authority and service providers shall designate officers in every licensed service area
or State or Union territory, as the case may be, as the nodal officers to receive and handle such
requisitions for suspension of telecom services.
(5) The Central Government or the State Government, as the case may be, shall constitute a Review
Committee.
(i) The Review Committee to be constituted by the Central Government shall consist of the
following, namely:-
(a) Cabinet Secretary -Chairman;
(b) Secretary to the Government of India In-charge, Legal Affairs -Member;
(c) Secretary to the Government, Department of Telecommunications -Member.
(ii) The Review Committee to be constituted by the State Government shall consist of the following,
namely:-
(a) Chief Secretary -Chairman;
(b) Secretary Law or Legal Remembrancer In-Charge, Legal Affairs -Member;
(c) Secretary to the State Government (other than the Home Secretary) -Member.
(6) The Review Committee shall meet within five working days of issue of directions for suspension of
services due to public emergency or public safety and record its findings whether the directions
issued under sub-rule (1) are in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (2) of section 5 of the
said Act.
[F. No. 800-37/2016-AS.II]
PRAMOD KUMAR MITTAL, Senior Dy. Director General (AS)
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.