Kerala HC refuses to grant stay on Trai tariff order 

Mumbai: India's digital multi-system operators (MSOs) apex body the All India Digital Cable Federation's (AIDCF) writ petition challenging the 2022 Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) Amendments to the Interconnect Regulation and Tariff Order, was listed before the Kerala high court today, and the high court refused to put a stay on the tariff order.

AIDCF had sought to strike down the amendments and, in the meantime, had sought a stay on the implementation of the new tariff order, which is to operationalise from 1 February 2023.

The High Court declined to issue an order earlier today after hearing detailed arguments from 10.20 a.m. to 12.15 p.m.

AIDCF had filed a writ petition against the Trai for changes in the telecommunication (broadcasting and cable) services interconnection (addressable systems) (fourth amendment) regulations, 2022.

Also read: AIDCF files a writ petition against Trai over NTO 3.0

The court stated that it is unlikely to issue an interim order halting the amendments.

Senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, who represented Trai, argued that the writ petition should be denied because the amendments were made after thorough consultation with the relevant parties and after the Supreme Court upheld the authority of Trai.

IBDF, which was represented by senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, intervened in the matter and supported the amendments issued by Trai.

Rohatgi said, "No case for staying on the amendments is made out. The court did not pass any interim order and has now listed the matter for 8 February and has asked the parties to complete pleadings."