HC breather for Maran-owned Kal Cables

The Centre’s decision would affect at least 1.5 lakh customers in Chennai alone.

The Madras High Court on Thursday partly stayed the Union Information & Broadcasting Ministry order cancelling the permanent registration of Sun Group-owned Kal Cables Private Limited, and allowed it to run continuous scroll for 15 days informing subscribers that it would be shut down soon.

The I&B Ministry had cancelled the licence of Kal Cables after the Union Home Ministry denied it mandatory security clearance. Kal Cables is part of Sun Group, owned by former Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran and his brother Kalanidhi Maran.

The Ministry order mailed to Kal Cables office in Chennai on August 26 had asked the multi-system operator (MSO) to shut down the operation in 15 days. Kal Cables approached the Madras High Court on Wednesday seeking a direction to the government for a permanent licence.

The Centre’s decision would affect at least 1.5 lakh customers in Chennai alone.

It has also been learnt that the I&B Ministry has cancelled the registration of nine more MSOs, including three from Jammu & Kashmir, for failing to get security clearance from the MHA. The registration of seven more MSOs has been cancelled for other reasons.

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