Kerala HC to hear AIDCF petition on Feb 22

The Kerala High Court will resume hearing on the petition filed by the All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF) which has challenged the TRAI’s new tariff order or NTO 3.0.

The matter was in fact listed for February 22. However, the lawyers of AIDCF requested for an immediate hearing after some leading broadcasters issued disconnection notice. 

The broadcasters which sent disconnection notice included Zee, Disney Star, and Sony. AIDCF has many MSOs as its members. 

Senior Counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the AIDCF, argued that that the move has affected 4.8 crore consumers.

Senior advocate Jayant Mehta, who also represented the petitioners, contented that the price is hurting the consumer. He said that the TRAI “is sleeping like nero, capitulating to the demands of the broadcasters.”

The lawyer contended that ‘irrational channel pricing’ will lead to erosion of subscriber, which will eventually make the operations of local cable operators unviable.