Telecom Tower Danger: HC releases notice to Punjab, Basis on Reliance Jio Plea

On Tuesday, the Punjab and Haryana High Court released a notification in response to a petition submitted by Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd, a branch of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), with the central government and the Punjab government pursuing action against the vandalism of its cell towers and the interruption of telecommunications services in Punjab.

Over 1,500 mobile towers have been damaged in Punjab over the past few days in the midst of the ongoing protest of farmers against agricultural laws. In total, the state has 21,306 mobile towers distributed over its 22 districts.

The petitioner’s counsel, Aashish Chopra told, The Hindu that the court had given a notice to submit a reply to the Centre and state governments till 8 February. The state of Punjab via its chief secretary, Union Ministry of Home Affairs, Department of Telecommunications, and the Punjab Director General of Police has been made respondents in the case by the petitioner.

The company submitted in its petition that the troublemakers taking part in vandalism were facilitated and sponsored by business interests and our customers bought. It added that these acts of violence have compromised the lives of thousands of its employees and caused harm and damage to its subsidiaries’ critical communications systems, sales, and service networks.