News Headline
PILs filed against restriction of sharing sports feed of “national importance” with DD platforms
MUMBAI: Two separate petitions filed over a rule relating to the broadcasting of sports feeds by DD channels will be heard soon in the high courts of Delhi, and Punjab & Haryana. While the media rights holders of sporting events with “national importance” are bound to share the live feeds with public broadcaster Prasar Bharati, the rule restricts the telecast of such matches only on the terrestrial network and DTH operator of the pubcaster.
According to a report from Economic Times, the petitioners are of the view that restricting the live telecast to the terrestrial and DTH networks of Prasar Bharati defeated the purpose of Section 3 (1) of the Sports Broadcasting Signals Act related to mandatory sharing with the pubcaster. Ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup, the PILs have been filed seeking direction on allowing Prasar Bharati to live telecast the matches on its channels available on private cable and DTH platforms.
Vaibhav Jain and Ramesh Kumar filed the PILs in the Delhi High Court and in the Punjab & Haryana HC respectively. Both high courts have posted the matter for hearing in late July while the World Cup will end before that on 14 July.
The Supreme Court imposed restrictions on such retransmission back in August 2017. The report quoted a legal expert saying he doesn’t expect the high courts to give any interim relief to the petitioners in light of the Supreme Court judgement. But given that these are PILs, there are chances of spending some time to look for merits.
Earlier, Supreme Court clarified in its order that sharing of signals with Prasar Bharati was aimed at giving access to consumers who otherwise did not have access rather than reaching consumers who have already subscribed to private cable and DTH networks.
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.
