The Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court has called for faster and more expert handling of disputes in telecommunications, broadcasting, airport charges and cyber technology sectors. Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh made these remarks while addressing a seminar on dispute resolution mechanisms, emphasising that India needs specialised courts and tribunals equipped to handle technically complex cases in these rapidly changing industries.
What the current system covers
The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT), established in 2000, currently handles disputes across multiple sectors. It deals with cases involving telecom licensing, spectrum allocation, interconnection agreements, service quality standards and pricing. The tribunal’s authority has since expanded to include broadcasting, cable services and airport tariff disputes.
For cyber-related disputes specifically, the framework works in two layers. The designated adjudicating officer handles claims for compensation up to ₹5 crore. Claims exceeding ₹5 crore go to civil courts instead. TDSAT serves as the appellate body against decisions made by the adjudicating officer in cyber cases.
Justice Singh noted that these specialised tribunals blend technical expertise with judicial processes. He highlighted that airports operate as complex ecosystems with multiple stakeholders, and telecommunications and broadcasting sectors involve interconnected services that demand focused regulation. Emerging issues in artificial intelligence and cyber fraud add to the complexity.
The Justice emphasised that mediation and voluntary settlement options available through TDSAT’s procedures can help parties reach efficient resolutions without prolonged litigation.
What this means for you
If you face a dispute with a telecom provider, broadcaster or airport authority, specialised tribunals rather than regular courts are designed to resolve your case faster and with greater technical understanding. For cyber fraud or data breach compensation claims under ₹5 crore, you can approach a designated adjudicating officer, with TDSAT available as your next step if needed. However, awareness among police, adjudicating officers and IT authorities about these mechanisms remains uneven across the country, so you may need to actively seek out the correct forum for your complaint.