R-JIO takes up the battle with COAI

Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited (RJIL), a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited (“RJIL”) has issued a press release, this time accusing the statement of Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) director general, Rajan S. Mathews of being surreptitious, defamatory, and is resorting to an act of contempt of the orders of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India and is devoid of any merit.

Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd (RJIL), in its letter of September 23, 2016 suggested overhaul of COAI’s regulations by a committee comprising of three retired Hon’ble Judges of the Supreme Court of India. According to RJIL the regulations as exist today admittedly are skewed in favour of incumbent operators, giving them de facto and de jure control over COAI to promote their vested interests. RJIL highlighted in its statement, “it is also a known fact that Tata Teleservices and Reliance Communications have left COAI in the past because of such biases.”

RJIL explains that the allegations of Rajan S. Mathews in the press statement to the effect that RJIL entered the sector as a “Back Door Operator” are on the face of it defamatory and borders on contempt of the orders of the Hon’ble Supreme Court.

RJIL has already put Rajan S. Mathews on notice demanding apology for issuing the press statement, with copy to COAI seeking appropriate action against  Rajan S. Mathews, and should they not act upon it, RJIL will pursue legal recourse with full vigour.