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Trai asks Cable TV operators to withdraw legal notice
Mumbai: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) on Tuesday wrote to the Tamil Nadu Digital Cable TV Operators Association to withdraw its legal notice filed through Utkrishtha Law Agency seeking directions for pay channels not to inflate the prices of Cable TV channels.
In a letter dated 4 January, the regulatory body said it had already issued a letter to broadcasters, and distribution platform operators in November 2021 and asked them to report to the authority any change in name, nature, language, MRP per month of channels, the composition of the bouquets of channels as per the New Regulatory Framework 2020 by 31 December 2021. It had also asked them to simultaneously publish such information on their websites.
The plan was to provide enough time for the migration of consumers to the New Regulatory Framework, 2020 to avoid any inconvenience to consumers. The broadcasters who had already submitted their Reference Interconnect Offers (RIOs) in compliance of the New Regulatory Framework, 2020 were also asked to revise their RIOs by 31 December 2021. Further, it informed the Association that there was no permission granted by MIB for OTT platforms at present, therefore, tariff orders issued by Trai are not applicable to OTT platforms.
“In light of this, broadcasters including Star India has intimated about deferment of all changes made in the RIO filed on 15 October 2021. Therefore, you are advised to withdraw the legal notice against Trai,” it wrote.
The Association had filed the legal notice last year, after several TV channels revised their prices, in compliance with Trai’s amended tariff order. The regulatory body had later extended the timeline for implementation of the new order to 1 April, 2022.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
