Cable operators had agreed that 2020 regulations unworkable: TRAI

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) Wednesday submitted before the Kerala High Court that the All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF) has themselves already declared that the 2020 framework “is unworkable but now they are asking before this court for it to be restored.”

"Their proposal was rejected for good reason. These reasons have not been challenged before this court by them. In my submission, TRAI has rightly not followed it. We have continued and compelled broadcasters to bring down driver and popular channels to below Rs 10. Therefore, there is no perversity at all and nothing manifestily arbitrary,” senior lawyer Rakesh Dwivedi, who was appearing on behalf of the TRAI, submitted before the single bench.

He told the court that the special leave petition filed before the high court was withdrawn when every stakeholder “felt that 2020 regulations had become unworkable, and asked for fresh consideration.”

Those regulations stipulated that the prices of most of the popular channels were increased beyond Rs 19 per month.

The lawyer informed the court that the petitioner's (AIDCF) contention was to cap all channels at Rs 12, which, he submitted, had been rejected for good reason.

He argued that granting stay would mean the “2020 regulation will become operative, which all stakeholders had agreed is not workable."

The court will resume hearing the matter tomorrow (Thursday) at 3.30 pm.

The AIDCF has approached the Hich Court, challening the TRAI’s new tariff order.

The matter was in fact listed for February 22. However, the lawyers of AIDCF requested for an immediate hearing after leading broadcasters such as Zee, Disney Star, and Sony issued disconnection notice.