Mobile service providers ordered not to divulge subscriber information to tele-marketers

New Delhi: The Delhi Consumer Commission has ordered mobile service providers not to divulge telephone numbers and other subscriber information with tele-marketing companies.

The commission bench headed by Justice J D Kapoor ordered, "By this interim order, all mobile service providers are restrained from sharing any kind of information, including the disclosure of mobile telephone numbers, to banks or any other finance companies and other agencies who promote their business by way of tele-marketing," it said and ordered copies of its order to be served on the Ccellular Operators Assocaition of India and banks for compliance.

The directions came during the hearing of a complaint filed by a Bharti Airtel subscriber against the service provider alleging that unsolicited calls and SMSs had infringed on his right to privacy and caused immense mental agony.

The complainant sought the impleading of nine multinational banks as parties to his complaint, which was allowed by the commission.

"Let notice be issued to Bharti Airtel Ltd and also to the banks from whom the calls were received by the complainant and these nine banks be impleaded as respondents," it said.