Court refuses to extend deadline

The petition seeking extension of time had been filed by Bhawani Rajesh Cable and Digitech. Justice Chandrachud had initially expressed the possibility of granting an extension of a month for making the digitisation mandatory. “Are the heavens going to fall if the deadline is extended? We don’t want TVs in homes blacked out during Diwali time.”

However,Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Kevic Setalvad opposed the suggestion,noting that sufficient time had been given and that the notification had been widely publicised. “The government has spent a lot of money on issuing ads in newspapers and TV,asking people to instal set top boxes. People like the petitioners should have ensured that the boxes are installed in households,” said Setalvad. He also pointed out that the deadline had already been extended to October 31 from June 30. Agreeing with the ASG’s contentions,Justice Chandrachud said,“In June,you knew that you had time till October. What have you done till today?”

Earlier,arguing for a group of multi-system operators,who had intervened in the case,their counsel V A Thorat told the court that several cable operators are facing difficulties in complying with the deadline. Thorat noted that most of the set top boxes have to be imported from China and claimed that the decision of the government has been supported by a “lobby of DTH operators”. He contended that households where cable operators are not able to provide set top boxes would have to approach DTH operators. However,the court rejected Thorat’s arguments and the petition.

Sena to lead protest today

CABLE operators from across Mumbai will hold a protest rally on Thursday evening against the government’s decision of digitisation. Shiv Sena MLA Anil Parab,who will lead the rally,called the I&B Ministry decision “rigid” and one that has held “Mumbaikars at ransom”. Parab is the chairman of Sena’s cable operators’ union.

On Thursday,around 2,000 cable operators are expected to participate in the protest that will culminate at Rang Sharda Auditorium in Bandra at 4 pm. “We will discuss further course of action at the meeting. Whatever decision the associations take will be fully backed by the Sena,” said Parab.