MTNL to act against defaulting MPs

MUMBAI, August 2: The affidavit filed by T N Prabhakara Rao, assistant general manager (legal) stated all telephones of defaulting ex-MPs of and up to the XIth Lok Sabha have been disconnected, and the directorate has issued orders for disconnection of all such telephones on September 8, 1998. Around 86 former MPs of the last Lok Sabha had their telephone lines disconnected on grounds of non-payment of telephone bills that amounted to Rs 2 crore.

He also said the department of Telecom had, through a letter dated July 15, 1999 directed that all telecom circle heads file recovery suits against all ex-MPs including those of the dissolved 12th Lok Sabha, whose outstanding dues were above Rs 5,000. By this date, telephones of 23 sitting MPs with the Rajya Sabha have also been disconnected, he stated.

According to the affidavit, when MPs are liable for disconnection, they file complaints of excess billing with the Ministry of Communications, when their cases are examined by offices in the field units. Thereafter, the minister takes time to examine the complaint and if the bills are found payable and justifiable, the minister replies to the complainants. However, even when replies are given, the former MPs continue to write to successive ministers to keep the complaint alive over the years, thereby preventing disconnection.