New Delhi: The Delhi HC on Monday upheld Centre's decision to compensate mobile users frustrated by frequent call drops.

A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath said there is no illegality in Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's decision making it mandatory for cellular operators to compensate subscribers for call drops from January 1, 2016.

HC dismissed a batch of petitions filed by Cellular Operators Association of India, a body of Unified Telecom Service Providers of India and 21 telecom operators, including Vodafone and Bharti Airtel .

It also clarified there was no stay on the notification of Trai since filing of the writ petition so the telecom regulator can ensure the telecom operators comply with its directions from the beginning of 2016. The bench said under "no circumstances" the decision of Trai can be "termed as penalty".