Unsolicited messages flood mobiles again

After a respite for over a week, mobile users have started getting unsolicited messages on their phones from telemarketers, as the government lifted the ban on bulk SMS from last night.

Government had put a ban on bulk SMSes and MMSes till October 4 in view of Ayodhya Veridct on title suit.

Though the main concern of the government was to maintain peace and order ahead of the verdict on Ayodhya title suit, which came out on September 30, it came as a relief to millions of mobile subscribers.

The ban was imposed on bulk SMSes and MMSes on September 22 to check any propaganda post Ayodhya verdict and was extended twice till October 4. It has been lifted as the country remained peaceful after the verdict.

The menace of unsolicited calls and messages reached such an extent that earlier this year Telecom Minister A Raja had to ask his Ministry to look into the matter.

After the brief relief, consumer organisations in the country are now petitioning that the government should extend the ban indefinitely.

Though the ban saved consumers of checking unwanted messages, it also affected some of the essential services such as mobile alerts from banks and airlines causing some hardships to subscribers.