Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) has directed Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) to refund the additional amount of Rs 967.8 million collected by it from Reliance Communications Limited (RCOM) as interconnect user charges (IUC).

The tribunal has also asked MTNL to pay interest on the additional amount charged from the firm in a matter regarding the home direct calling issue. TDSAT has underlined that in line with its earlier order dated October 17, 2012, MTNL is liable to pay Rs 967.8 million along with interest as directed in paragraph 167 of the judgement to RCOM.

TDSAT’s directive has come over an execution application filed by RCOM for implementation of the tribunal’s earlier order dated October 17, 2012. Earlier, MTNL had raised a demand for additional IUC from RCOM based on international calls along with penalty for the period between May, 2004 and September, 2004. RCOM had paid Rs 3414.7 million to MTNL after receiving notice from MTNL to disconnect the company from its network, following the non-payment of IUC.

In July 2012, RCOM had approached the TDSAT seeking a refund of Rs 2670 million from MTNL contending that the latter had raised bills for the minutes in addition to the total minutes terminated in its network.