In a sharp intervention in Parliament, Raghav Chadha raised serious concerns over telecom policies affecting millions of prepaid mobile users in India, urging the government to introduce stronger consumer protection measures.
Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, the Aam Aadmi Party leader said the current system allows telecom operators to cut off incoming calls and messages immediately after a prepaid recharge expires, leaving users suddenly disconnected.
Chadha argued that mobile connectivity has become a basic necessity in today’s digital economy, especially when most essential services rely on mobile numbers.
90% Mobile Users Depend on Prepaid Connections
Highlighting the scale of the issue, Raghav Chadha said nearly 90 per cent of India’s approximately 125 crore mobile subscribers use prepaid connections.
According to him, blocking incoming calls and SMS once a recharge expires creates serious problems for users who depend on their numbers for daily communication.
He said while stopping outgoing calls after plan validity ends might be understandable, cutting off incoming services is unfair and disruptive.
Risk of Missing OTPs and Emergency Messages
Chadha warned that the current telecom practice could have serious consequences for users.
Many people depend on their mobile numbers to receive bank OTPs, government notifications, and emergency messages. If incoming services are suddenly blocked, users may miss critical alerts.
“Mobile connectivity today is not a luxury but an essential service,” he stressed during the debate.
Three Major Demands for Prepaid Users
To address the issue, Raghav Chadha proposed three key reforms to protect consumers:
1. One-Year Incoming Access
Incoming calls and SMS should remain active for at least one year after the last recharge, ensuring users can still receive important communications like OTPs and alerts.
2. Three-Year Number Protection
Mobile numbers should not be permanently deactivated for at least three years after the last recharge, giving users enough time to reactivate their connection.
3. Low-Cost Incoming-Only Plans
Telecom companies should introduce affordable “incoming-only” plans for people who simply want to keep their number active for calls and essential messages.
28-Day Recharge Plans Also Questioned
Chadha also criticised telecom companies for marketing 28-day recharge packs as “monthly plans.”
He argued that this practice is misleading because a calendar month normally has 30 or 31 days.
Due to the 28-day cycle, customers must recharge 13 times a year instead of 12, effectively forcing them to pay for an additional recharge annually.
The AAP MP urged telecom operators and regulators to align recharge validity with actual calendar months to bring transparency and fairness to the system.
Call for Telecom Reforms
The issue sparked a broader discussion in Parliament about consumer rights in the telecom sector.
Chadha said reforms are necessary to ensure that millions of prepaid users are not left suddenly disconnected from essential digital services.
He urged the government and telecom regulators to take swift action to make mobile services more consumer-friendly and transparent.
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