Dismissed

M/S Bhima Ridhdhi Digital Services v. the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting & Anr.

Delhi HC9 Nov 2016W.P.(C)/7195/2016

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

This Writ Petition filed against the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting sought a temporary injunction restraining the cessation of analogue signals and requesting more time for installing digital set-top boxes. The Court held that ample time had elapsed since the 2011 notification and rejected the plea for extension, dismissing the petition and mandating completion of digital conversion by 24t

What did the court decide?

The petition was dismissed; the petitioner was directed to convert all analogue connections to digital by 24th November 2016 and inform subscribers of the discontinuation of analogue signals thereafte

M/S Bhima Ridhdhi Digital Services Vs the… — Pension and Retirement Benefits | Delhi HC (2016)

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$~33

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*IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI % Judgment delivered on: 09.11.2016

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W.P.(C) 7195/2016 M/S BHIMA RIDHDHI DIGITAL SERVICES ..... Petitioner

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versus

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THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING & ANR ..... Respondents

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Advocates who appeared in this case: For the Petitioner : Mr. Gaurav Singh, Advocate. For the Respondents : Mr. Kirtiman Singh with Mr. Waize Ali Noor, Advocates for TRAI. Mr. Rijul Taneja with Mr. Abhishek Malhotra, Advocates for the applicant/ IBF. CORAM:HON’BLE MR JUSTICE SANJEEV SACHDEVA JUDGMENT 09.11.2016 SANJEEV SACHDEVA, J. (ORAL) W.P.(C) 7195/2016

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The petition has been filed seeking grant of time for installing the set-top boxes and till the completion of installation of set top boxes, the respondent be restrained from stopping the supply of analogue signal.

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The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting by Notification dated 11.11.2011 had, in public interest, notified that it shall be

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W.P.(C) No.7195/2016

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Page 1 of 4

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obligatory for every cable operator to transmit or re-transmit programmes of any channel in an encrypted form through a Digital Addressable System (DAS) in such cities, towns or areas, as specified in table contained therein.

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Effective dates ranged between 30.06.2012 to 31.12.2014. The said period of implementation was subsequently extended from time to time and the last extension for the implementation of DAS PhaseIII was granted upto 31.12.2015. The petitioner admittedly is part of the Phase-III implementation of the digital system.

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The contention of the petitioner is that sufficient set top boxes are not available in the area of the petitioner to changeover to digital system.

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Learned counsel appearing for the respondent submits that sufficient set top boxes are readily available in the open market and even through the cable operators and vendors. He further contends that originally digital set top boxes were being imported but now they are being indigenously manufactured by several manufacturers in the country and are available in abundance. He submits that there is no shortage of digital set top boxes.

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Perusal of the petition shows that the petitioner is only seeking for grant of some more time for installation of digital set top boxes and for change over to DAS.

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W.P.(C) No.7195/2016

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Page 2 of 4

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The notification was issued by the Government on 11.11.2011. Nearly five years have elapsed from the said date when the cable operators were made aware that they have to changeover to DAS. The petition was filed in February, 2016 and now we are in November. The petitioners have already got sufficient time to complete the installation of set top boxes and the changeover to DAS. Even post the filing of the present petition, approximately nine months have passed. There is no further justification in granting the petitioner any more time for completion of installation of digital set top boxes and changeover to DAS.

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The Writ Petition is accordingly dismissed. No orders as to Costs.

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The petitioner shall ensure that all analogue connections are converted to digital by installation of digital set top boxes by 24^th November, 2016. The petitioner shall duly inform the subscribers that on expiry of the said period, all analogue signals would be discontinued and the subscribers will be required to switch over from the analogue mode of transmission to digital mode of transmission on or before the cut-off date. To facilitate the change-over, the petitioner shall also display a scroll, in all analogue channels being transmitted by them, informing the subscribers that they have to change over to digital system within the stipulated timeframe.

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W.P.(C) No.7195/2016

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Page 3 of 4

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CM No.38180/2016 (seeking permission to intervene), CM Nos.35329/2016 (impleadment) & 31936/2016(impleadment)

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Learned counsel for the applicant submits that in view of the disposal of the petition, these applications have become infructuous. The applications are accordingly dismissed as infructuous.

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Dasti under signatures of Court Master.

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SANJEEV SACHDEVA, J
NOVEMBER 09, 2016
st

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W.P.(C) No.7195/2016

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Page 4 of 4

M/S Bhima Ridhdhi Digital Services v. the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting & Anr.

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

M/S Bhima Ridhdhi Digital Services v. the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting & Anr.

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

What the court decided

A compact analysis

Issues for consideration

Statutes considered

Parties & counsel

Coram

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