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Delhi MSO urges TRAI to draw up comprehensive DAS tariff order pronto
NEW DELHI: The Delhi based multi system operator (MSO) Home Cable Network has urged the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to fix the digital addressable system (DAS) tariff as early as possible in consonance with the directive of the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Arbitration Tribunal (TDSAT) order of 28 April.
This had become all the more imperative in the light of the Supreme Court dismissing the appeal by Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) and others challenging the TDSAT directive, it said.
Home Cable Network had filed the appeal in TDSAT against the TRAI tariff orders, and IBF had appealed when the Tribunal upheld the appeal.
In a letter to TRAI chairman R S Sharma, Home Cable Network managing director Vikki Choudhary said the exercise needs to be conducted keeping in view the interest of the consumers at large and to ensure a level playing field, on non-discriminatory terms with parity in conducting this business.
“In view of this, we request the Industry Regulator TRAI to re-notify its letter to Pay Broadcasters dated 23 July, 2015 requesting the rates for their respective Pay TV channels with prescribed MRP as well, along with the duration of Advertisements shown on their respective Pay TV Channels,” Choudhary said.
He said these issues had been adversely affecting the industry for the past three years and therefore the exercise needed to be completed in a time-bound manner, so the innovations continue with doing business.
In its order upheld by the apex court, TDSAT had said TRAI “will be well advised to have a fresh look at the various tariff orders in a holistic manner and come out with a comprehensive tariff order in supersession of all the earlier tariff orders.”
“While doing so, it may consider all the agreements and relevant data available with it. It may consider differentiating between content which is of a monopolistic nature as against that which is shown by other channels also. It may also consider classifying the content into premium and basic tiers,” the Tribunal had added.
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.
