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Dispute between Taj TV & Meghbela Cable goes to Mediation Centre under TDSAT order
NEW DELHI: The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) has directed Kolkata based multi system operator (MSO) Meghbela Cable and Broadband Services and Taj Television to get their financial dispute resolved before the Mediation Centre.
Senior representatives of both parties have been asked to appear before the Centre on 23 January.
Meanwhile, Meghbela’s counsel Vineet Bhagat has handed over five cheques aggregating to the sum of Rs 16,45,580 to to Taj TV counsel Upendra Thakur towards payment of earlier dues.
Bhagat stated that the payment was without prejudice to the rights and contention of his client.
Thakur suggested that the matter may be referred to the Mediation Centre where the parties may have a reconciliation of their accounts and further try to resolve their disputes. Bhagat had no objection to the course suggested by Thakur.
TDSAT chairman Justice Aftab Alam and member Kuldip Singh said in their order, “Needless to say that both sides will be represented by officers who are in a position to take decisions on behalf of their respective principals in course of the mediation proceedings.”
When the issue had come up before the Tribunal last year following Meghbela challenging a disconnection notice, it had been suggested to the parties to hold discussions to reconcile the amounts. Taj TV had also been asked not to carry a scroll against the MSO on its channels. However, a joint meeting on 26 December failed to result in any compromise.
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.
