FIR against users who forge documents to get SIM cards

New Delhi: Retailers and franchisee selling mobile SIM cards will have to register police complaint against subscribers if they submit forged documents to get mobile connections.

According to the guidelines issued by the telecom department on verification of new mobile subscribers, "In cases where forged documents are submitted by the subscriber and originals are also forged, police complaint or FIR shall be lodged by the PoS (Point of Sale) or Franchisee against the subscriber within 15 days of bringing it to the notice of Licensee (telecom operator).

Under the new rules, which will be applicable from the second week of November, the authorised person selling SIM will have to mention that he has seen the subscriber and matched the photograph attached on the application form with the subscriber.

The retailer will also have to sign saying that he has verified documents submitted by the customer with original copies of proof of address and proof of identity.

"In case PoS or Franchisee fails to lodge complaint or FIR...licencee shall lodge FIR/Complaint against the subscriber and franchise/PoS within further three days," the guidelines says.

Telecom operator will also have to file First Information Report against the franchisee or SIM seller if the SIM is sold against documents of any other subscriber of person without the owner of the document having any knowledge of it.

Further, legal action will be taken against telecom operators for failing to act against the seller and subscriber.

The new rules also bar an individual from having bulk connection which more than 10 mobile phone connections in any telecom circle by all service providers.

DoT has mandated to activate bulk mobile phone connection only after physically verifying details of subscriber and the premise of such subscriber should be re-checked by telecom operator every six month.

The mobile connection will be activated only after details of subscriber are updated in the subscriber base of the telecom operator.

The subscriber will be able to make outgoing and take incoming call, except to and from telecom operator, only after his details are verified over phone by the service provider.