TRAI Reports Higher Litigation Load In FY25, Tribunal Cases Jump

According to a Story Board analysis of TRAI’s Annual Reports for 2023–24 and 2024–25, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) saw its pending cases rise from 458 in FY24 to 513 in FY25. The increase was driven mainly by disputes at the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT), where pending cases jumped from 15 to 59.

During FY25, 45 new cases were filed at TDSAT, while only one case was disposed of. Pending cases at the Supreme Court declined marginally from 161 to 158, while High Court matters rose slightly from 204 to 207. Consumer forum and district court cases also saw small increases, reaching 37 and 38, respectively. Other tribunals reported 14 pending cases, up from 12 the previous year. TRAI reported 343 cases were heard across forums in FY25, up from 322 in FY24, with TDSAT hearings rising to 52 from 14. The data indicates that regulatory disputes, especially in broadcasting and tariff matters, are increasingly moving to TDSAT, highlighting ongoing judicial engagement under the Telecommunications Act, 2023.