TDSAT declines MP MSOs' petitions for Star India signals

[Girish]

NEW DELHI: The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) has declined separate petitions by Gwalior's S R Digital and Ujjain's Surbhi Diginet through which they had sought the signals of Star India.

TDSAT chairman Justice Aftab Alam and members Kuldip Singh and B B Srivastava, Iisting the matter for 20 January, gave Star India three weeks to file its reply. The two multi-system operators (MSOs) would file rejoinders in two weeks thereafter.

In similar petitions, the two MSOs had alleged that they had signed memorandums of understanding with Star India and also an agreement.

Counsel Vineet Bhagat for both MSOs submitted that despite executing an MoU and an agreement, Star India had provided boxes of only five channels. However, Star India had not activated the same. It was further alleged that Star India had not provided boxes of the remaining channels.
In view of this, the petitioner MSOs wanted that Star India should be directed to activate boxes of the five channels and provide the remaining boxes and activate them.
Arguing for Star India, counsel Arjun Natarajan said the broadcaster had not entered into any MoU and/or agreement with S.R. Digital and/or Surbhi Diginet. Therefore, there was never any occasion for SIPL to either hand over boxes or to activate them.

He also said that the MoUs and agreements filed with the petitions contained no signatures on behalf of Star India.
He added that there is no pleading in the petitions that counter-signed copies of MoUs and/or agreements have been withheld by Star India.
He added that S R Media is a collection agent of Star India and therefore it might have access to Star India’s stamp papers, IRDs etc and alleged that S R Media had colluded with S R Digital and Surbhi Diginet.
http://www.indiantelevision.com/reg...-msos-petitions-for-star-india-signals-151226