Vodafone Idea (Vi) is denying consumers their Mobile Number Portability (MNP) rights. And now it is armed with an interim relief order from the sectoral tribunal TDSAT, to implement its anti-consumer move.

A consumer can port out from an existing operator whilst retaining the original number by sending an SMS to short code 1900. As per Trai regulations, the maximum a consumer has to pay for this is in the range of 10 paisa to Rs 1. But if that user has a Vi connection, for porting out he will have to sign up a newly minted tariff plan of Rs 179. That means, one has to pay a big levy for checking out of Vi network.

This is contrary to what twelve-year old Mobile Number Portability (MNP) Regulations require. Mandatory access to 1900 to all the consumers without any discrimination has to be provided; no tariff plan is exempted from the non-discriminatory rule.

Acting on consumer complaints, on December 7, 2021 Trai issued a direction to all telcos to provide access to 1900 services under all their tariff plans, including entry-level plans. All telcos agreed, barring Vi. After they were done with lobbying DoT for reducing litigation, Vi itself litigated against Trai. It filed an appeal before TDSAT for a legal shield and got it. TDSAT disarmed Trai from taking any action Vi incase of non-implementation of its (Trai’s) directions.

Though interim, TDSAT order is shocking for the consumers, who would continue to pay as per the whims and fancy of Vi for exiting their network. The order has come from the bench headed by retired Supreme Court Justice Shiva Kirti Singh, who has more than 4.8 years of experience in handling this sector specific tribunal. So, while passing the interim order, he knew that consumers cannot be forced to pay more for just an SMS. He also knew that the harm caused to the consumers cannot be reversed at a later date, yet he allowed this to happen. Vi consumers will continue to suffer unless the order is reversed.