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ESPN-Star Sports win this round; court orders InCablenet to pay for 175,000 homes
The Mumbai High Court, in an interim order passed this afternoon, directed InCablenet to pay ESPN Software India for 175,000 subscriber homes.
InCablenet, in its version of the turn of events, said the court had ordered ESPN and Star Sports to restore the signals to the multisystems operator by 5:00 PM on Tuesday, pending the final hearing of the application filed by Incablenet.
As per the court’s ruling, InCablenet was directed to deposit in court a sum of Rs 400,000 per month for an additional 25,000 subscriber homes over and above RS 2.4 million which InCablenet was paying under the contract for 150,000 subscriber homes, an ESPN release said.
The court further directed InCablenet to pay arrears for the months of May and June 2001, RS 4.8 million, within three days and a sum of RS 800,000 for additional 25,000 connections for the months of May and June 2001 to be deposited in court in seven days. The High Court has permitted ESPN to withdraw the aforesaid sum of RS 800,000 by furnishing an undertaking.
Incablenet has been directed to continue to pay for 175000 subscriber homes till further orders in the aforementioned manner. “InCablenet claims to service over 1.55 million homes in Mumbai to its advertisers and they were paying us for only 1.5 lakh homes which is less than 10 per cent of the actual homes claimed to be serviced by the MSO. We are happy with the Mumbai High Court order,” Manu Sawhney, managing director, ESPN Software, said.
InCablenet on its part said it was moving the court against Star’s decision on Monday to switch off its feed to InCablenet over a dispute similar to the one it has had with ESPN-Star Sports. Rajiv Vyas, president, INCablenet said the court’s attention would be drawn to the statement Star’s executive V-P, Arun Mohan, had made in an interview broadcast by CNBC on Monday. Mohan had reportedly said that Star was demanding an increase in the number of subscribers by more than 150 per cent (to 375,000 from the present 150,000). Mohan had openly stated in the same interview that it was their intention to form a cartel of pay channels to extract higher charges from television viewers, Vyas said. “It is high time that the government took note of such monopolistic actions of the pay channels coercing customers to pay more” Vyas said.
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.
