- TDSAT was established in 2000 to adjudicate disputes and dispose of appeals with a view to protect the interests of service providers and consumers of the telecom sector and to promote and ensure orderly growth of the telecom sector.
- By the Amendment Act, an Appellate Tribunal known as the “Telecom Disputes Settlement & Appellate Tribunal” was set up under Section 14 of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997 by TRAI (Amendment) Act, 2000 to adjudicate disputes and dispose of appeals with a view to protect the interests of service providers and consumers of the telecom sector and to promote and ensure orderly growth of the telecom sector.
- Their registered office is located in Delhi and consists of a chairperson and two members. The chairperson has to be either the chief justice of a High Court or a judge of the Supreme Court, and the other 2 members must have been in the post of Secretary to the Indian government for a period of 2 years or must have extensive knowledge in the field of telecommunication, commerce, industry, and technology. The chairperson and other members of the TDSAT are liable to hold office for a term of 3 years.
- In the TDSAT, any person, local authority, state government, or central government for the adjudication of a dispute can file cases. The power and function of Telecom Disputes Settlement & Appellate Tribunal includes that it can hear the appeal and also dispose appeals that are against any order, direction, or decision of the TRAI.