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BECIL to conduct audit of status of IndiaCast channels on Dish TV
NEW DELHI: The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) today directed an independent audit by BECIL of the package of IndiaCast UTV Media Distribution, being carried by Dish TV to ascertain the number of channels being offered to consumers who opted for them.
Meanwhile, chairman justice Aftab Alam and member Kuldeep Singh directed Dish TV to furnish a bank guarantee of Rs 15 crore to be submitted within 10 days. The case will now be heard on 15 July.
The petitions by both sides came up today in the context of the earlier order of 19 December 2013, wherein Dish TV had committed that from January 2014, “it shall take all the 22 channels of the petitioner (with regard to which the fixed deal agreement comes to an end on 31.12.2013) out of its packages and put them on a-la-carte basis on its platform. In respect of the remaining 16 channels likewise, the respondent shall put them on a-la-carte basis on its platform, with effect from 1 April 2014 on expiry of the fixed deal agreement on 31 March 2014. No legal objection can be taken to the arrangement proposed to be made by the respondent.”
Dish TV had then stated that “a scroll running on the TV screens will only say that after 31 December 2013 the 22 channels of the petitioner shall be available only on a-la-carte basis and invite anyone who want to subscribe to any of those channels on a-la-carte basis, to communicate on the SMS number mentioned in that scroll.”
The dispute before the Tribunal related the number of people who had opted according to the scroll run by Dish TV and whether payment was made in that regard.
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.
