Idol row: Ban on Red FM stayed till November 13

The ministry had shot off a show-cause notice to the radio station for violation of the All India Radio programme code. The station, meanwhile, claimed it had apologised to Tamang and people of the Gorkha community and put up a plea before TDSAT.

On Thursday, TDSAT said the stay would remain in place till the pendency of the hearing. The counsel for Red FM had told the court that the Government had only given it a half-day notice, whereas the regulation says that there should be a 15 days notice period, during which a show-cause notice should be served.

However, countering the Red FM stand in court, the Government counsel said the relevant laws and regulations were that a maximum of 15 days notice could be served, but there was nothing in the law that stopped it from taking action earlier. Red FM has also been allowed to put up an amended petition by October 8 in view of the Government order and has asked the ministry to reply over the notice in two weeks time.

I038;B Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi had said on October 2 that the Government was the absolute authority on the code of content, though the TDSAT could regulate other issues relating to television and radio broadcasting.