Red FM plea: ministry seeks more time to reply

An extra cautious I&B Ministry on Tuesday sought more time from the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal’s (TDSAT) to examine and reply to radio station Red FM’s petition challenging the week-long ban imposed by it. The radio station, meanwhile, will continue to enjoy immunity from the ban, as ordered by TDSAT, until the next hearing in January 2008.

The ministry had announced the ban following complaints that one of its RJs made racist comments against Indian Idol winner Prashant Tamang, but had said that the ban would be effected once TDSAT heard the case through. In September, the ministry had shot off a show-cause notice to the radio station for violation of the All India Radio programme code.

Subsequently, the tribunal ordered a stay on the ban.

Red FM was also allowed to put up an amended petition by October 8 in view of the Government order after which the tribunal asked the ministry to reply in two weeks.

In its reply, the ministry asked for more time to examine Red FM’s petition. “The Government is still studying the petition. It is going ahead… looking thoroughly from various angles and wider ramifications,” Rakesh Gosain, the ministry’s counsel, told the tribunal.