NTO 2.0 case: SC postpones IBDF vs TRAI issue to September 27

The Supreme Court has postponed the Indian Broadcasting Digital Foundation (IBDF) vs Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) issue to September 27.

In its previous hearing on August 18, the apex court had informed it that it would consider IBDF’s appeal seeking interim relief on September 7. The matter was then rescheduled to September 15. The SC bench had asked the Union Government and TRAI to file counter affidavits before the next hearing.

In its recent counter affidavit, the TRAI has argued that reducing MRP cap to Rs 12 and coming up with twin conditions in the NTO 2.0 will make sure ‘fair bundling’ while preventing ‘unfair bundling’.

The counter affidavit was filed in response to the IBDF petition against the Bombay High Court order which upheld NTO 2.0.

The IBDF has pleaded with the SC to suspend the Bombay High Court order that rejected the petitions filed by broadcasters while issuing an ex-parte order for the implementation of NTO 2.0. The IBDF, however, contended that the HC order is erroneous.

TRAI, however, said that the amendments in the 2020 regulation contained only minor changes to the 2017 regime, which introduced immense changes. TRAI opposed the broadcasters’ view that those changes are draconian.