Reliance swept the mobile telecom industry with its whole new world of Reliance Jio and its exciting unlimited free offers. The company recently extended its free data and cellular services till March 31st, 2017 as part of the Jio Happy New Year Offer.

But, the offer might end before March 31st. Yes, Bharti Airtel on Friday moved telecom dispute tribunal TDSAT against TRAI allowing Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio to continue free promotional offer beyond stipulated 90 days.

TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) however recently said that any telecom operator cannot offer a promotional offer for more than 90 days as per Telecommunication Tariff Order (2004) and hence Jio could not offer freebies after 3 December. But JIO claimed that the company can’t deliver the kind of service it promises to its customers it may be unfair on its part to charge the customers and extended the free offer till March 31st 2017.

Airtel Petition About JIO Happy New Year Offer:

Airtel alleged that violation of TRAI’s tariff orders has been continuing since March 2016, causing “significant prejudice and day-to-day loss” to it and “affecting its network” as it has to bear asymmetric traffic due to free call offer by Reliance Jio.

On Friday, Airtel filed a 25-page petition before Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT), asking the judicial body to rule against Jio’s continuation of free voice and data services beyond December 3. When the petition was mentioned before a bench of TDSAT, Jio counsel was present who asked to be impleaded as a party to the case. TRAI submitted that it needs 10 more days to take a decision.

“The TRAI further without affording any reasoning baldly, cryptically and in a non-transparent manner in violation of Section 11(4) of the TRAI Act concluded that the Tariff Plans offered by the said TSP are not non-compliant with IUC and are not predatory and discriminatory at present. The impugned decision of TRAI is thus bad in law and deserves to be quashed,” the petition said.

Giving reasons for its petition, Airtel said the “free services” continue in blatant violation of the TRAI’s Directions, Tariff Orders and the Regulations with “TRAI as a mute spectator”. TDSAT directed TRAI to come back with its decision on the next day and directed Reliance Jio to file an impleadment application.

Also Read: The Amount Of Fine Reliance Has To Pay For Using PM Modi’s Pic In Jio Ad