High Court
Madras HC stays encashment of Suryan FM’s bank guarantee
NEW DELHI: The Madras high court has stayed encashment of Suryan FM’s bank guarantee by the government, till a final decision is taken on various issues related to FM radio as per recommendations of the broadcast and cable regulator.
The high court, while granting an interim stay, observed that since the matter of licence fee is pending with the central government for a final decision, an interim stay is granted barring the government from encashing the bank guarantee in case Suryan FM did not pay the fee, according to an United news of India report from Chennai.
The licence of the Sun TV-run FM radio station, along with others, became payable on 30 April.
However, a similar plea of Radio Mirchi was not entertained by Mumbai high court recently, while another one filed by Radio Mid-day is pending a hearing at the same court.
The central government is unable to take a decision on deferment of the licence fee till a final view is taken on the issue, as recommended by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, out of fear of attracting censure from the election regulator that is overseeing the conduct of on-going elections for the Lower House of Parliament.
