The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Centre's notification on CAS renders pleas infructuous

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Sep 08, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Centre's notification on CAS renders pleas infructuous

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: As the Centre has decided to implement the Conditional Access System (CAS) regime in the four metropolitan cities from December 31, 2006, the pending writ petitions challenging its earlier decision to suspend the CAS have become infructuous.

The notification suspending the CAS was issued in February 2004. The High Court, however, stayed its operation after it was challenged by Sumangali Cable Vision, Cable TV Operators Welfare Association of Tamil Nadu and two others.

When the matter was taken up for hearing on Thursday by the First Bench comprising Chief Justice A.P. Shah and Justice K.Chandru, the court was informed by Assistant Solicitor-General P. Wilson that the Centre issued a notification on July 31, 2006, stating that the CAS would be operational in the metros from December 31, 2006. The Delhi High Court has also upheld the validity of the CAS regime, the Bench was informed.

Recording the submission, the Bench said, "in view of the decision of the Delhi High Court and a notification issued by the Central Government dated July 31, 2006, these petitions do not survive." However, another public interest litigation petition seeking uniform cable television subscription rate throughout the State is still pending adjudication.

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