The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI), through its President CS Pawan G. Chandak, has submitted a representation dated 16 July 2026 to the Department of Telecommunications seeking amendment of Section 14C(b) of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Act, 2000 to expressly include Company Secretaries in Practice as eligible for appointment as Members of the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT). The representation notes that Section 14C(b) currently provides eligibility for persons who have held the post of Secretary to the Government of India or an equivalent post for at least two years, or persons well versed in technology, telecommunication, industry, commerce or administration. ICSI states that Company Secretaries in Practice possess multidisciplinary expertise in laws including the Companies Act, FEMA, competition law, GST and taxation, insolvency, valuation, telecommunication and technology, arbitration and governance. It also refers to Section 409(3)(d) of the Companies Act, 2013 recognising Company Secretaries as eligible to become Technical Members of the National Company Law Tribunal. The representation requests favourable consideration of the proposal to include Company Secretaries in Practice as eligible Members of TDSAT.
Institute of Company Secretaries of India
CS Pawan G. Chandak
PRESIDENT
G&Cl: TDSAT: JUL26 | Dated: July 16, 2026
Shri Devendra Kumar Rai
Joint Secretary (Telecom)
Deportment of Telecommunications
Room No. – 319, 3rd Flor, Samhar Bhawan, Ashoka Road
Ministry of Communications
Government of India
New Delhi – 110001
Respected Sir,
Subject: Request for Amendment to Section 14C(b) of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Act, 2000 to expressly include Company Secretaries in Practice as eligible for Appointment as Member, Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal.
Greetings from the Institute of Company Secretaries of India!
The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) is a premier professional body established under an Act of Parliament, namely the Company Secretaries Act, 1980. It functions under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and is committed to regulating and developing the profession of Company Secretaries in India. With a strong national and global presence, ICSI caters to over 80,000 members and around 2,50,000 students.
The evolving regulatory realm in India demands professionals possessing interdisciplinary expertise in law, governance, compliance, finance, corporate regulation, stakeholder management and public policy. The profession of Company Secretaries has, over the years, emerged as a specialized governance professional uniquely positioned at the intersection of these disciplines.
ICSI Submission:
We wish to draw your kind attention to Section 14C(b) of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Act, 2000 (“the Act”), which prescribes the qualifications for appointment as a Member of the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal. The provision reads as under:
A person can be qualified for appointment as a member if:
i. has held the post of Secretary to the Government of India; or
ii. any equivalent post in the Central Government or the State Government for a period of not less than two years; or
iii. a person who is well versed in the field of technology, telecommunication, industry, commerce or administration.
Considering the statutory role and established expertise of Company Secretaries in Practice, the Institute respectfully requests for appointment of Company Secretaries in Practice eligible to be members of the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal.
Justification:
The new corporate environment has made businesses more complex and these complexities have given rise to a number of disputes, thereby increasing the need for technically proficient professionals. Company Secretaries are multidisciplinary professionals having expertise in various laws, including the Companies Act, Capital & Securities Laws, FEMA, Competition Law, GST & Taxation, Insolvency, Valuation, Environment Laws, Consumer & Market Regulations, Infrastructure & Sectoral Laws, Telecommunication & Technology, IPR-related Laws, Industrial & Labour Laws, Arbitration, and Governance-related Laws. The role of Company Secretary is transforming at the global platform into that of a Governance Professional and practitioner of corporate governance. Their statutory expertise and professional training equip them with a deep understanding of legal and regulatory frameworks as well as practical experience in governance, compliance, corporate restructuring, dispute resolution, and stakeholder management.
It is pertinent to state that Section 409(3)(d) of the Companies Act, 2013 recognises Company Secretaries as eligible to become Technical Members in the National Company Law Tribunal. The continued emergence of Practising Company Secretaries as representatives before tribunals demonstrates that the profession has evolved into an integral pillar of India’s commercial justice system.
The inclusion of Company Secretaries in Practice would broaden the availability of competent professionals, facilitate timely regulatory compliance by authorised entities across the country, reduce compliance costs, and further the Government’s commitment towards Ease of Doing Business, while simultaneously strengthening regulatory oversight and corporate governance within the telecommunications sector.
We would request your good self to consider the matter favourably and will be pleased to furnish any additional information or clarification required in this matter.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
(CS Pawan G. Chandak)
President
The Institute of Company Secretaries of India
