Nepal Telecom Faces Writ Petition in Supreme Court Over Mandatory CRBT Service
भदौ ३, २०८२ ११:७
Kathmandu: A writ petition has been filed in the Supreme Court demanding that Nepal Telecom stop playing the Color Ring Back Tone (CRBT) during various fairs, festivals, and celebrations without user consent, arguing that the service is annoying and disruptive.
The writ, filed by advocate Bimal Pokharel, claims that CRBTs are being activated arbitrarily on the verbal instructions of the Minister of Communications and Information Technology, the Chairman of the Nepal Telecommunication Authority, and other government officials. The petition demands an immediate halt to the practice. The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, the Nepal Telecommunication Authority, and Nepal Telecom have been named as respondents.
According to the petition, users are being forced to listen to predetermined voices, songs, poems, or other messages every time they make a call. It argues that the mandatory ring back tones have caused mental stress, degraded service quality, and driven customers toward private telecom operators, resulting in significant losses in state revenue.
“The public’s anger towards Nepal Telecom’s services is increasing due to the forced ring back tone. There is strong opposition to the telecom’s action on social media and in the media,” the writ states.
The petition further alleges that indiscriminate use of CRBTs has indirectly disrupted telephone services and seriously compromised quality.
Advocate Pokharel said: “This unnecessary playing of color ring back tones has caused inconvenience to service recipients. It is increasing anger towards Telecom. CRBTs are being imposed on the instructions of higher authorities. I have filed a writ petition demanding that it be stopped.”
The writ petition, initially registered in the Supreme Court on August 4 by Registrar Man Bahadur Karki, was quashed on August 6. Advocate Pokharel then filed a fresh petition on August 11, which was heard by a bench of Justice Til Prasad Shrestha. The bench dismissed the earlier order.
In March last year, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology had allowed telecom companies to play informative messages or tunes on special occasions, such as the foundation day of a government body or events of public organizations with approval from the Nepal Telecommunication Authority and for a fee. The government had claimed this measure would make the process more regulated amid growing criticism over unnecessary CRBTs being played during calls.
पछिल्लो अध्यावधिक: भदौ ३, २०८२ ११:७
