TDSAT refuses Discovery's appeal for interim releif against NTO 2.0 implementation

On Monday, The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) refused to grant Discovery Communication India's appeal for interim relief pertaining to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's (TRAI) NTO 2.0 directive issued on 24 July. The contention of TDSAT was that it did not want to intervene in the process as the case is still pending resolution in the High Courts. 

Broadcasters had challenged the Tariff Amendment Order (TAO) and Interconnection Amendment Regulation (IAR) of 2020 in the Bombay High Court while Discovery had challenged the order in the Delhi High Court. The hearing in Delhi High Court was delayed due to the pandemic outbreak till 1st October.

TRAI contends that since there was no stay order by the High Courts on the implementation of the new regulations, so the regulator was required to take appropriate steps and issue directions to ensure that it doesn’t remain in abeyance indefinitely.