Dish TV gets Rs 4,164.05 crore DTH License Fee demand from MIB

Essel Group owned Direct to Home (DTH) operator Dish TV India Limited on 24th December has received an intimation from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) that the company has to pay Rs 4,164.05 crore within 15 days basis the accounts of the company and payments made by Dish TV India Limited towards license fee from the date of issuance of DTH license till Financial Year 2018-19.

MIB however has also noted that the amount will be subject to verification and audit and the outcome of various court cases pending before the Hon’ble TDSAT, the Hon’ble High Court of Jammu and Kashmir at Jammu and the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in the matter of DTH License Fee.

MIB had in 2014 issued a demand notice for the Licensee Fee pertaining from the date of issuance of DTH License till Financial Year 12-13 which was challenged by the company before the Hon’ble Telecom Dispute Settlement Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) which was stayed by the Hon’ble TDSAT. Dish TV also has a petition pending before the Hon’ble High Court of Jammu and Kashmir wherein the quantum of License Fee and imposing of interest has been challenged.

The Hon’ble High Court of Jammu and Kashmir also allowed the interim prayer of the company. There are also similar petitions pending before the Supreme Court due to which the company doesn’t agree with the demand raised by the MIB. The company is studying the communication to determine the next steps.