JOIN USThe Ministry of Home Affairs has asked the Department of Telecom (DoT) to ensure that prior security clearance should be made mandatory for service providers before granting them licences.
In its communication to DoT, the ministry suggested that verification of antecedents of the directors and promoters of the firm should also be conducted.
At present, the DoT first gives licence to a company to provide mobile telephone services on the basis of its application and the security clearance is sought from the Home Ministry only before the launching of the service.
Suggesting that it would be better to verify the background of the applicant prior to allotment of licences, the Home Ministry has said that if security agencies came across any errors or false claims while verifying the antecedents of the company and its promoters, it would be difficult for the government to revoke the licence as the applicant can approach a court.
Under the new guidelines, the Home Ministry will decide on security clearances for any project forwarded by any Ministry or Department within a strict time-frame of 12 weeks.