News Headline
Chennai CAS denotification stayed
NEW DELHI: The Chennai High Court today stayed the denotification of Chennai from the conditional access (CAS) roadmap by the government on recommendation of the industry regulator, Telecom regulatory Authority of India (Trai).
Cable TV industry sources in Chennai confirmed to indiantelevision.com sometime back of the development.
The government and Trais reaction to the court observation were not immediately available.
The court had been moved by four parties, including two individual CAS-enabled consumers in Chennai and the Cable TV Operators Welfare Association of Tamil Nadu.
The ground of the petition was that at the insistence of the central government, CA was introduced in Chennai and several people had bought set-top boxes, subsequent to which they had been enjoying a fairly good service at low price of Rs. 72, plus local taxes.
The recent government decision to defer implementation of CAS for several months would tantamount to injustice being meted out to those consumers who had bought boxes, some of the petitioners had contended.
The Delhi-based president of Cable TV Operators Federation of India (COFI), Roop Sharma, welcomed the Chennai courts decision and said that the other state governments and the central government should take note of this fact. The court verdict is a partial victory for the cable industry that has been backing the implementation of CAS, which was being opposed by a section of pay broadcasters, she added.
Keep tuned in for more details on this issue, which can have a cascading effect in other metros too.
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.
