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ESS moves SC over Indo-Pak cricket telecast rights
NEW DELHI: Even before the Indian cricket board has decided on the Indian-Pakistan home series, telecasters have started flexing their muscles for a tour that has the potential of turning into a gold mine.
ESPN Star Sports has moved the court, again, on the telecast rights issue and pubcaster Doordarshan is lobbying hard to land the rights.
ESS moved an application in the Supreme Court, at present hearing a case on a petition filed by ESS, few days back seeking to restraint the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) from awarding telecast rights for the India-Pakistan series to DD or anybody else without considering it.
Confirming to indiantelevision.com the development ESPN India MD RC Venkateish said, “It’s a standard application that has been moved to protect our legal rights.”
BCCI has said in the recent past — a fact reiterated by DD officials — that it would like DD to telecast the cricket matches involving the home series with Pakistan. DD has held parleys also with the cricket board in a bid to corner the rights that is likely to fetch it revenue before the financial year closes on 31 March.
On the other hand, DD would ideally like to have the rights on an exclusive basis, but is not averse to a sharing arrangement if the need arises.
KS Sarma, CEO of Prasar Bharati, which manages DD, said, “I cannot disclose financial details, but we would like to have exclusive rights (to the matches with Pakistan). ” Asked if DD is open to sharing the rights with some other broadcaster, Sarma replied in the affirmative.
However, he added that nobody has approached DD for a joint deal as had been done once in the past by ESS. BCCI was unavailable for comments on queries relating to the telecast rights, but a United News of India report from Kolkata states that BCCI has
termed reporting of yesterday’s meeting as not entirely correct.
According to the UNI report, BCCI legal advisor Ushanath Banerjee today clarified that the Board could not select any representative to the International Cricket Conference (ICC) in yesterday’s adjourned AGM because of an order of the Chennai City civil court.
”The Assistant City Civil Judge of the civil court in Chennai had passed an order on 28 September, 2004 in the case of the Bharathi Cricket Club restraining the Board from selecting any representative to ICC or any other similar conference in the AGM as per Agenda Item No 13. This order is still in existence and the final decision is pending in the high court of Madras.
Therefore, the BCCI could not have selected any representative to ICC in the adjourned AGM,” Banerjee was quoted as saying. He said a section of the media had reported distorted facts quoting some BCCI officials as well as a lawyer on the adjourned AGM.
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.
