Home India Ministry of Communications Notification of draft Temporary Suspension of Telecommunicat...
Date: 28-Aug-2024 Category: Extra Ordinary State: Union Government Country: India

Notification of draft Temporary Suspension of Telecommunication Services Rules 2024

Issued by Ministry of Communications · Department of Telecommunications

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Executive Summary & Key Takeaways

What it means

  • This gazette notification publishes draft rules for the Temporary Suspension of Telecommunication Services Rules, 2024. These rules outline the process for temporarily suspending telecommunication services under the Telecommunications Act, 2023.
  • The notification invites objections and suggestions from the public within 30 days of publication.

Key Changes

  • The draft rules supersede the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017 and its 2020 amendment.
  • Suspension orders must be in writing and issued by a competent authority (Union Home Secretary or equivalent State authority). In unavoidable circumstances, a Joint Secretary (Central Government) can issue an order, subject to confirmation within 24 hours by the competent authority.
  • Suspension orders must clearly state reasons, define geographical areas, and specify a duration not exceeding 15 calendar days.
  • A review committee (at both Central and State levels) will be formed to examine suspension orders within 5 days of issuance and can overturn them if not in compliance with the Telecommunications Act, 2023.
  • Each authorized entity must designate a nodal officer to receive and implement suspension orders. Communication of the order must be done by an officer of at least the rank of Superintendent of Police.

Impact Analysis

Government

  • Need to ensure efficient communication and coordination between various government agencies.

Telecommunication Service Providers

  • Potential reputational risk if suspensions are perceived as arbitrary or excessive.

Public

  • Increased transparency through publication of suspension orders and reasons.

Suggested Actions

  • Monitor the implementation of the rules and make necessary adjustments based on feedback and experience.

Key Entities Referenced

Telecommunications Act, 2023 (44 of 2023): The primary legislation under which these draft rules are being made. Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017: Rules superseded by the draft rules. Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Amendment) Rules, 2020: Amendment to the 2017 rules, also superseded by the draft rules. Central Government: The entity proposing the draft rules and responsible for their implementation. State Governments: Entities responsible for implementing the rules at the state level. Review Committees (Central and State): Bodies established to review suspension orders for compliance with the Act. Nodal Officers: Officers designated by authorized entities to receive and implement suspension orders. Ministry of Communications (Department of Telecommunications): The ministry responsible for the notification and rules. Union Home Secretary: The competent authority for issuing suspension orders at the central level. Secretary to the State Government (in-charge of Home Department): The competent authority for issuing suspension orders at the state level.
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रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99 सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-29082024-256731 CG-DxLx-xEG-I2D9H0x8x2x0 24-256731 xxxGIDExxx असाधारण EXTRAORDINARY भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (i) PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (i) प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY स.ं 480] नई ददल्ली, बुधिार, अगस्ट्त 28, 2024/ भाद्र 6, 1946 No. 480] NEW DELHI, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2024/ BHADRA 6, 1946 सचं ार मत्रं ालय (दरू सचं ार जिभाग) अजधसचू ना नई ददल्ली, 28 अगस्ट्त, 2024 सा.का.जन. 519(अ.).—जनम्नजलजखत मसौदा जनयम जिसे केंद्रीय सरकार दरू संचार अजधजनयम, 2023 (2023 का 44) की धारा 56 की उप-धारा (2) के खंड (न) के साथ पठित धारा 20 की उप-धारा 2 के खंड (ख) द्वारा प्रदत्त िजियों का प्रयोग करते हुए बनाने का प्रस्ट्ताि करती है, को इससे प्रभाजित होने िाले सभी व्यजियों की सूचना के जलए एतदद्वारा प्रकाजित दकया िाता ह ै और एतद्द्वारा नोठिस ददया िाता ह ै दक उि मसौदा जनयमों पर उस तारीख से तीस ददन की अिजध की समाजि के पश्चात जिचार दकया िाएगा जिस तारीख से सरकारी रािपत्र म ें यथाप्रकाजित इस अजधसूचना की प्रजतया ं सिवसाधारण को उपलब्ध कराई िाती ह;ैं यदद कोई आपजत्त अथिा सुझाि हो, तो उसे संयिु सजचि (दरू संचार), दरू संचार जिभाग, संचार मंत्रालय, भारत सरकार, संचार भिन, 20, अिोक रोड, नई ददल्ली-110001 को भेिा िा सकता ह;ै केंद्रीय सरकार द्वारा उपयिुव अिजध की समाजि से पूिव उि मसौदा जनयमों के संबंध में दकसी भी व्यजि स े प्राि आपजत्त अथिा सुझाि पर जिचार दकया िाएगा। 1. सजं िि नाम, प्रारंभ और व्यािजृ त्त — (1) इन जनयमों को दरू संचार सेिाओं का अस्ट्थायी जनलंबन जनयम, 2024 कहा िाएगा। 5476 GI/2024 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(i)] (2) ये सरकारी रािपत्र में प्रकािन की तारीख से प्रिृत्त होंगे। (3) ये जनयम भारतीय तार अजधजनयम, 1885 का अंतगवत दरू संचार सेिाओं के अस्ट्थायी जनलंबन (लोक आपातकाल या लोक सुरिा) जनयम, 2017 और दरू संचार सेिाओं का अस्ट्थायी जनलंबन (संिोधन) जनयम, 2020 का अजधक्रमण करेंग,े परंत ु य े जनयम उन जनयमों के अतं गतव जनलंबन स े संबंजधत मौिूदा आदेिों की जनबंधन और ितों को अजधभूत नहीं करेंगे िो ऐस ेआदिे म ेंयथा जिजनर्दवष्ट जनलंबन की समय अिजध समाि होने की जतजथ तक िारी रहगें े। 2. पठरभाषाएं — (1) इन जनयमों म ेंिब तक दक संदभव से अन्यथा अपेजित न हो - (क) “अजधजनयम” स ेदरू संचार अजधजनयम, 2023 (2023 का 44) अजभप्रेत ह;ै (ख) "सिम प्राजधकारी" से केंद्रीय सरकार के मामले में गृह मंत्रालय में केन्द्रीय गृह सजचि, अथिा राज्य सरकार के मामले म ेंराज्य सरकार के गृह जिभाग के प्रभारी सजचि अजभप्रेत है; (ग) "नोडल अजधकारी" से इन जनयमों के प्रयोिन के जलए दकसी प्राजधकृत संस्ट्था द्वारा अजभनाजमत कोई अजधकारी अजभप्रेत ह;ै (घ) "समीिा सजमजत" स ेइन जनयमों के जनयम 5 के अंतगवत गठित की गई सजमजत अजभप्रेत ह;ै (ङ) “जनयम” से दरू संचार सेिाओं का अस्ट्थायी जनलंबन जनयम, 2024 अजभप्रेत ह;ै और (च) "जनलबं न आदेि" से इन जनयमों के जनयम 3 के उप-जनयम (1) के अंतगवत सिम प्राजधकारी द्वारा िारी दरू संचार सेिा अथिा दरू संचार सेिाओं की दकसी श्रेणी के अस्ट्थायी जनलंबन के जलए आदेि अजभप्रेत ह।ै (2) उन िब्द ों और पदों जिनका उपयोग इन जनयमों म ें दकया गया ह ै और जिन् हें पठरभाजषत नहीं दकया गया ह ै परन्त ु जिन् ह ें अजधजनयम में पठरभाजषत दकया गया ह,ै के िही अथव होग ेंिो अजधजनयम में जिजनर्दवष् ि दकया गया ह।ै 3. दरू सचं ार सिे ाओं का अस्ट्थायी जनलबं न (1) धारा 20 की उप-धारा (2) के खंड (ख) के अधीन दकसी दरू सचं ार सेिा अथिा दरू संचार सेिाओं की दकसी श्रणे ी को जनलंजबत करने के जनदेि केिल सिम प्राजधकारी द्वारा जलजखत जनलंबन आदेि द्वारा िारी दकए िाएंगे: बिते दक िब अपठरहायव पठरजस्ट्थजतयों के कारण सिम प्राजधकारी द्वारा जनलंबन आदेि िारी करना व्यिहायव नहीं ह,ै िहा ं ऐसा जनलंबन आदेि केंद्रीय सरकार के संयुि सजचि रैंक के अजधकारी द्वारा िारी दकया िा सकता ह ैजिस े सिम प्राजधकारी द्वारा जिजधित रूप से प्राजधकृत दकया गया हो: बिते दक उप-जनयम (1) के प्रथम परन्तुक के अधीन िारी दकया गया जनलंबन आदेि ऐसा आदेि िारी होने के चौबीस (24) घंिे के भीतर सिम प्राजधकारी द्वारा इसकी पुजष्ट के अधीन होगा अन्यथा यह जनलंबन आदेि समाि हो िाएगा। (2) उप-जनयम (1) के अतं गतव िारी दकया गया कोई भी जनलंबन आदेि प्रकाजित दकया िाएगा, और: (क) इसमें ऐसे आदिे के कारणों को स्ट्पष्ट रूप से उल्लेख दकया िाएगा; और (ख) यह आदेि जनम्नजलजखत तक सीजमत होगा: (i) ऐसा आदेि िारी करने के जलए जिजिष्ट कारणों का उल्लेख; (ii) स्ट्पष्ट रूप स े पठरभाजषत भौगोजलक िेत्र; और (iii) जनर्दवष्ट अिजध, िो पंद्रह (15) कैलडें र ददन स े अजधक नहीं होगी। (3) उप-जनयम (1) के अंतगवत िारी जनलंबन आदेि की प्रजत ऐसा आदेि िारी होन े के चौबीस (24) घंिे की अिजध के भीतर संबंजधत समीिा सजमजत को भेिी िाएगी। 4. नोडल अजधकाठरयों का पदनाम एि ंकतव्यव (1) प्रत्येक प्राजधकृत संस्ट्था जनलंबन आदेि प्राि करन े और उसे कायावजन्ित करने के जलए प्रत्येक सेिा िेत्र, अथिा राज्य अथिा संघ राज्य-िेत्र के जलए नोडल अजधकारी को अजभनाजमत करेगी। (2) दकसी भी जनलंबन आदिे का कम से कम पुजलस अधीिक रैंक के अजधकारी द्वारा नोडल अजधकारी को जलजखत म ें अथिा सुरजित इलेक्ट्रॉजनक सचं ार के माध्यम से सूजचत दकया िाएगा।[भाग II—खण् ड 3(i)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 3 5. समीिा सजमजत का गिन और काय-व प्रणाली (1) केन्द्रीय सरकार समीिा सजमजत का गिन करेगी जिसमें जनम्नजलजखत सदस्ट्य िाजमल होंग:े (क) मंजत्रमंडल सजचि - अध्यि; (ख) केन्द्रीय सरकार के प्रभारी सजचि, जिजधक कायव - सदस्ट्य; तथा (ग) सजचि, केन्द्रीय सरकार, दरू सचं ार जिभाग - सदस्ट्य। (2) प्रत्येक राज्य सरकार समीिा सजमजत का गिन करेगी जिसमें जनम्नजलजखत सदस्ट्य िाजमल होंग:े (क) राज्य के मुख्य सजचि -अध्यि; (ख) सजचि जिजध अथिा प्रभारी लीगल रेमेंमबरेंस, जिजधक काय-व -सदस्ट्य; तथा (ग) गृह सजचि के अलािा राज्य सरकार के सजचि -सदस्ट्य। (3) उप-जनयम (1) और उप-जनयम (2) के तहत गठित संबंजधत समीिा सजमजत दकसी भी जनलंबन आदेि िारी होने के पांच (5) कैलेंडर ददनों की अिजध के भीतर बैिक आयोजित करेगी और इस संबंध में अपने जनष्कषों को दिव करेगी दक क्ट्या जनलंबन आदेि अजधजनयम की धारा 20 की उप-धारा (2) के खडं (ख) के अनपु ालन में ह ै अथिा नहीं। यदद समीिा सजमजत की राय है दक यह जनलंबन आदेि अजधजनयम की धारा 20 की उप-धारा (2) के खडं (ख) का अनुपालन नहीं करता ह ैिह ऐसे आदेि को खाठरि कर सकती ह।ै [फा. सं 24-05/2024-यूबीबी] देिेंद्र कुमार राय, संयिु सजचि MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS (Department of Telecommunications) NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 28th August, 2024 G.S.R. 519(E).—The following draft rules, which the Central Government proposes to make in exercise of the powers conferred under clause (b) to sub-section 2 of section 20, read with clause (t) to sub-section (2) of section 56 of the Telecommunications Act, 2023 (44 of 2023), are hereby published for the information of 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; The objections or suggestions which may be received from any person with respect to the said draft rules before the expiry of the aforesaid period shall be taken into consideration by the Central Government. 1. Short title, commencement and savings (1) These rules may be called the Temporary Suspension of Telecommunication Services Rules, 2024. (2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette. (3) 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.4 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(i)] 2. Definitions (1) In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) “Act” means the Telecommunications Act, 2023 (44 of 2023); (b) “competent authority” means the Union Home Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs in the case of the Central Government, or the Secretary to the State Government in-charge of the Home Department in the case of a State Government; (c) “nodal officer” means any officer designated by an authorised entity for the purpose of these rules; (d) “review committee” means the committee constituted under rule 5 of these rules; (e) “rules” means the Temporary Suspension of Telecommunication Services Rules, 2024; and (f) “suspension order” means an order for temporary suspension of telecommunication service or any class of telecommunication services, issued by the competent authority under sub-rule (1) of rule 3 of these rules. (2) The words and expressions used in these rules and not defined herein but defined in the Act shall have the meaning assigned to them in the Act. 3. Temporary suspension of telecommunication services (1) 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. (2) Any suspension order issued under sub-rule (1) shall be published, and: (a) clearly state the reasons for such order; and (b) be limited to: (i) addressing the specific reasons for such order; (ii) clearly defined geographical area/s; and (iii) a specified duration, not exceeding fifteen (15) calendar days. (3) A copy of the suspension order issued under sub-rule (1) shall be forwarded to the concerned review committee within a period of twenty-four (24) hours from the issuance of such order. 4. Designation and duties of nodal officers (1) Each authorised entity shall designate a nodal officer for every service area, or state or union territory, to receive and implement the suspension order. (2) 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. 5. Constitution and working of the review committee (1) The Central Government shall constitute a review committee, consisting of the following members: (a) Cabinet Secretary -Chairman; (b) Secretary to the Central Government In-charge, Legal Affairs - Member; and (c) Secretary to the Central Government, Department of Telecommunications -Member.[भाग II—खण् ड 3(i)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 5 (2) The Government of each State shall constitute a review committee, consisting of the following members: (a) Chief Secretary of the State -Chairman; (b) Secretary Law or Legal Remembrancer In-Charge, Legal Affairs -Member; and (c) Secretary to the State Government, other than the Home Secretary -Member. (3) The concerned review committee constituted under sub-rule (1) and sub-rule (2) shall meet within five (5) calendar days of issuance of any suspension order, and record its findings as regards whether the suspension order is in adherence with clause (b) to sub-section (2) of section 20 of the Act. Where the review committee is of the opinion that the suspension order is not in adherence with clause (b) to sub-section (2) of section 20 of the Act, it may set aside such order. [F.No.24-05/2024-UBB] DEVENDRA KUMAR RAI, Jt. Secy. 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.

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