PIL against Indiscriminate distribution of SIM Cards threatening National Security

Press Note
Indiscriminate sale & distribution of SIM cards by telecom giants without maintaining correct identity
documents thereby violating the license condition by DOT is a big threat to national security . In this
connection CAG has underlined (in its telecom audit report no 17 of 2014 pg 19 tabled in parliament on
01-Aug-2014) stating no risk is acceptable in the interest of national security. Such SIM Cards are used
by anti-socials like gangs, mafias and terrorists for their dangerous agendas. And the highly profit making
telecom companies are wilfully facilitating incubation of such activities.
Those in charge of State and national security even though aware of the menace have done nothing
significant except raiding the shops of a few retailers. This shows the poor concern of the concerned
officials to such a critical public safety and national security matter.
Concerned with the National Security and threat during the upcoming Nabakalebara and Rath Yatra in
Puri, some of the activists and some members of Pragatiseela Nagarika Parishad like Ashok Nanda,
Pradipta Nayak, Amogh Mund and Akhand have filed a case in the High Court of Odisha, Cuttack through
Advocate Avijit Mishra which has been accepted on 08-Apr-2015.
The Telecom Companies are giving hard targets to their distributors and sales network to maximize the
number of sale/distribution of SIM Cards. This brings them direct income and much more than that, they
also eye upon getting new mobile number-series with the exhaustion of existing allotted series from DOT.
To get the benefits, the companies covertly employ two groups of criminal service providers, (i) One that
forges the Voter ID and similar identity document, and (ii) another that forges signature of customer,
distributor and retailer on the company application form. In Odisha alone, at least 10 lakh SIM cards are
released to market every month with most of it apparently so pre-activated. Being fully aware of the
National Security concern, the acts of these companies cannot be seen any less than will-full Criminal
Negligence which can be established through a thorough and transparent investigation.
The regulatory authority i.e., TRAI officials while being fully aware of all these manipulations turn a blind
eye with an apparent intention of personal greed. The activists have braved to inform the court that
inspite of regular information, the regulatory authority and officers in charge of social and national
security, have shown deaf ears. Activists are seeking action against all those found to be directly and
indirectly responsible for this wilful Criminal Negligence.

Activists present during the press meet

Shri. Ashok Nanda, Shri. Pradipta Nayak, Shri. Akhand, Shri. J B Sarangi, Dr. Madhu Mishra, Shri. Jayant
Das, Adv. Avijit Mishra