Comment: For the first tiem after globalisation started in India in 1991, Hon'ble Supreme Court has started thinking in right way about business/greed of MNCs.
NEW DELHI: Those pesky calls may finally dry up. Reacting to a common complaint of millions, the Supreme Court on Thursday maintained that the year-old 'National Do-Not-Call Registry' (NDNCR) has just not worked as telemarketers have continued to breach the citizen's right to privacy, and suggested that NDNRC should be replaced by a 'call registry' — that is, those wishing to receive telemarketers' calls should register themselves for the purpose.
Remarkably, a little over eight months ago, this paper in its Times View had made precisely this suggestion. On the front page on November 18, 2007, we had said, "There's a better way out of this mess than trying to make the do-not-call registry work — have a 'call registry' instead. In other words, the default option should be that telemarketers cannot make unsolicited calls. Those who wish to receive calls can register themselves on the call register."
In response to the suggestion of a bench comprising Justices A K Mathur and Dalveer Bhandari, additional solicitor general Gopal Subramaniam said the Centre would consider it in all seriousness and get back to the court within six weeks. Subramaniam appeared to have been impressed by the suggestion, which he termed as "weighty".
On the issue of pesky calls, the SC has not just been concerned but proactive. Last year it had virtually forced the government to operationalize the 'do-not-call registry' while dealing with a PIL filed by one Harsh Pathak accusing service providers of selling their data base to telemarketers, who made unsolicited calls.
"In the last one year, we have experienced such calls galore. At least we are victims of it. A year back, you (the Centre) were not willing to implement the regulations. They were implemented after we threatened to do it through our order. After one year, we feel something more needs to be done," the court said.
Right to privacy is primary: SC
"It is time to rechristen the 'Do-Not-Call Registry' as 'Call Receivers Registry'," said the court and explained that those who registered in the latter would only be entitled to receive calls from telemarketers. "Persons interested in commercial calls must volunteer and get registered. Those who do not wish to register should not be disturbed," it said.
Remarkably, a little over eight months ago, this paper in its Times View had made precisely this suggestion. On the front page on November 18, 2007, we had said, "There's a better way out of this mess than trying to make the do-not-call registry work — have a 'call registry' instead. In other words, the default option should be that telemarketers cannot make unsolicited calls. Those who wish to receive calls can register themselves on the call register."
In response to the suggestion of a bench comprising Justices A K Mathur and Dalveer Bhandari, additional solicitor general Gopal Subramaniam said the Centre would consider it in all seriousness and get back to the court within six weeks. Subramaniam appeared to have been impressed by the suggestion, which he termed as "weighty".
On the issue of pesky calls, the SC has not just been concerned but proactive. Last year it had virtually forced the government to operationalize the 'do-not-call registry' while dealing with a PIL filed by one Harsh Pathak accusing service providers of selling their data base to telemarketers, who made unsolicited calls.
"In the last one year, we have experienced such calls galore. At least we are victims of it. A year back, you (the Centre) were not willing to implement the regulations. They were implemented after we threatened to do it through our order. After one year, we feel something more needs to be done," the court said.
Right to privacy is primary: SC
"It is time to rechristen the 'Do-Not-Call Registry' as 'Call Receivers Registry'," said the court and explained that those who registered in the latter would only be entitled to receive calls from telemarketers. "Persons interested in commercial calls must volunteer and get registered. Those who do not wish to register should not be disturbed," it said.
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