Allegation On Reliance Jio Telecom Infrastructure Damage Amid farmers Protest- Punjab And Haryana High Court Issues Notice To State And Centre

BACKGROUND

The petitioner company, Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd., had approached the High Court seeking action against people who were damaging the telecom infrastructure of the company after its telecom services were distorted in the wake of farmers protest against the three farm bills. The "miscreants" had disconnected the power supplies and damaged other technical fibre cables of Jio towers.

The petitioner company in its plea submits that there is some vested interest of rival companies in spreading fake rumours against Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd. and that in furtherance of the same, around 1500 Jio towers have been damaged in the State.

In a statement issued by the petitioner company recently, it has clarified that the subsidiary company has nothing to do with contract farming and neither do they have any future plans in the sector."We won't purchase any agricultural lands. Suppliers will buy from farmers at MSP." The statement said.

COURT ISSUES NOTICE IN THE PLEA

Arguments of Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd.

Senior Adv. Ashok Aggarwal appearing for Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd. argued that the purpose of enacting the Punjab Prevention of Damage to Public and Private Property Act, 2014 was in fact to prevent any instance of damage done to public or private properties but the Act lacks any provision which provided for the measures to prevent such damage. According to the petitioner company, the Act address the issue of damage to public or private properties after the same has been damaged and carries no provision with a view of preventing such damage.

Therefore, major grievance of the petitioner was that the State must evolve an adequate mechanism for including the prevention of damage to properties so that the ultimate objective of the legislation be fulfilled.

Arguments of the Respondents

Mr. Atul Nanda, Advocate General of Punjab argued that the State has taken action in the grievances of petitioner company which is accepted by Reliance Jio Infocomm itself. He also informed the court that the State had deployed 1019 patrolling parties in 27 districts and have also appointed 22 nodal officers to ensure that no further acts damaging the property of petitioner company is continued. The State also submitted that the towers that were damaged and made non-functional by the miscreants are not recovered and functioning properly.

However, the State interestingly made a suggestion in the Court that it would be easier for the state authorities to resolve the grievances of the petitioner company better if it shares the information regarding "vested interest involved" as alleged in the petition.

The Court while issuing the notice of motion in the matter to the State of Punjab and Centre and adjourns the matter to 08.02.2021.

Case Name: Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd. v. State of Punjab & Ors.

Order Dated: 05.01.2021