New Delhi- The Telecom Disputes Settlement & Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) held a seminar on September 28, 2024, in Arpora, North Goa, to raise awareness about the role of the Adjudicating Officers (AO) in resolving disputes relating to cybercrimes.

The Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya, who was the keynote speaker at the seminar, emphasized the significance of the tribunals and their origin in the Indian legal system. He highlighted the importance of the subject experts and judicial members in ensuring a speedy and effective dispute resolution process in a specialized sector like telecom, broadcasting, cyber, airport tariff, Aadhaar, Personal Data Protection, etc.

Justice D.N. Patel, Chairperson of the TDSAT, introduced his Introductory address, outlining the tribunal's jurisdiction over sectors like Telecom, Broadcasting, Cyber, Airport Tariff, Aadhaar, Personal Data Protection, etc. and the types of disputes that are referred to the TDSAT for review.

Justice M.S. Karnik, Judge, High Court of Bombay at Goa, was the Guest of Honour. The other dignitaries who were present at the event included Justice Kamal R. Khata, Judge, High Court of Bombay, and Justice Valmiki Menzes, Judge, High Court of Bombay at Goa. The Business Session of the seminar was devoted to presentations by subject experts and lawyers, including Adv Kunal Tandon, Adv Payal Kakra, Adv Vibhav Srivastava, Adv Tejveer Singh Bhatia, and Adv Himanshu Dhawan.

The experts discussed various topics such as "IP TV -- A Merger of Telecom and Broadcasting? The TDSAT's Role in Ensuring Fair Practices and Quality Service in Broadcasting", "Role of Regulations in Orderly Growth of Broadcasting and Cable Industry", "Dispute Resolution under Cyber Law", etc.

Adv Kunal Tandon suggested that more awareness needs to be disseminated about the availability of the forum of Adjudicating Officers across all states for civil remedies to cybercrime victims. He also proposed that a conference of all AOs under the IT Act by the TDSAT be organized in order to educate them and others about the remedies available to cybercrime victims.

Justice D.N. Patel, Chairperson of the TDSAT, proposed that a mechanism be put in place where the registration of any FIR by cyber police stations against any cyber offence must be notified to the IT Secretary of the State, who also happens to be the Adjudicating Officer under the IT Act for the consideration of civil remedy to the cyber offence complainant.