Indian Legal News: Sealing of Illegal Mobile Towers across Cities

Did you know laws in India are strict on illegal mobile towers which are erected without the permission of any authority? In many places across the country, mobile companies were illegally erecting these towers. There are a total number of 5,364 phone towers within the jurisdiction of the MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi), out of which 2,952 are declared illegal.

India Legal News: Operators State that Powers Flow from the Indian Telegraph Act to Central Government Only, Not any Civic Authority

The High Court of Delhi stayed on the orders of sealing mobile towers, till May 19, 2010. It asked the MCD and Cellular Operators Association to resolve the issue in a friendly way. The court wanted to solve the matter as early as possible because it is a “matter of public interest.” While seeking a stay order from the High Court pertaining to the sealing, the operators stated that the MCD’s sealing was not legal because the powers flow from the Indian Telegraph Act are not available with any civic authority. They further stated that such powers are vested with Central Government only. The MCD had also given time limit to mobile companies for getting the towers regularized. After the time limit expires, the authority started sealing the towers. Now the amount which is required to pay to MCD for installing a tower has been raised from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.

Indian Legal News: Sealing Activities Continue in Delhi

The sealing activities in the capital city started, a few months back. The MCD has already sealed around 300 towers in the city during the said period. However, only 41 were made operational as the phone companies completed their formalities. On May 12, 2010, the MCD sealed 24 of the illegal towers and 12 towers each in central and south zones of the city. The sealing started from the Chittaranjan Park area. Thereafter, towers were sealed in Govindpuri area. Other sealing areas include Jangpura, Bhogal, Kalkaji, Chittranjan Park and Lodhi colony. These towers have been sealed without any permission from the civic authority.  MCD is also planning to seal about 20 illegal towers in Central Delhi.

Indian Legal News: More Illegal Towers to be Sealed Across Many Cities

After sealing in Delhi, other cities that also have a huge number of illegal mobile towers have started feeling the heat. In Mumbai, around 60 towers have been sealed, following the sealing of 30 towers in Chhattisgarh. An investigation of illegal towers in Shimla indicated that 99 out of 118 mobile towers were illegal. The country’s planning minister has ordered for an action against these companies.