Two more DAS cases put off to Oct. in Delhi HC

Two more DAS cases put off to Oct. in Delhi HC

 Delhi High Court

NEW DELHI: Two more cases related to Phase III of digital addressable systems (DAS) – filed by Om Systems of Mumbai and Digiana – have been moved to be heard on 5 October  2016 by the Delhi High Court.

Justice Sanjeev Sanchdeva was scheduled to hear these matters on Tuesday but, as
13 September was a holiday, the two cases were put off to next month and will be heard with other cases slated for that day next month.

Earlier, on 7 September 2016, the first batch of a large number of cases related to DAS had been put off to 5 October 2016 as the single bench did not assemble after lunch.

As a result, the application by the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) for being impleaded in the case also did not come up for hearing.

The cases that were listed on 7 September included those filed by Rohtak Cable Operators’ Association, Andhra Pradesh MSOs Welfare Federation, Multi System Operators’ Welfare Association, Sai Big Star Welfare Association, Sree Devi Digital Systems, Federation of Telangana MSO, DEN Manoranjan Satellite, Victory Digital, Sri Chowdeshwary Cable Network, Shyam Baba Cable Network, Panchajanya Media, Bharat Digital Cable Network and Yogesh Cable Networks.

On 8 September, a notice was issued to the Union of India (Ministry of
Information) on five petitions relating to the stay orders on Phase III of DAS that came before a bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Ms Sangita Dhingra Sehgal who adjourned the matters to 26 September 2016.

These related to Radiant Digitek Networks Pvt Ltd, Rajasthan Cable Operators Foundation, Nasik Zilla Cable Operator Association, Indusind Media and Communication Ltd, and Bhima Riddhi Digital Services. While the first two are against Union of India, the other three are against the State of Maharashtra.

The Supreme Court had, on 1 April, 2016, accepted the plea of the Central Government that “it would be just and proper for this Court to withdraw all those cases  pending in  different High Courts and transfer the same to Delhi  High Court.”

A total of 62 cases had been filed by multi-system operators (MSOs) in various courts in the country for extension in the deadline of Phase lll that was supposed to have ended on 31 December 2015. Out of these 62 cases, 12 cases had been disposed off by respective courts and three cases had been withdrawn by the petitioners.

Notice issued to Union of India on five DAS Phase III petitions

Hearing of DAS cases in Delhi HC put off to Oct