High Court
FM Phase III e-auctions commence, MHA to study judgment before deciding on appeal
NEW DELHI: The e-auction for the first batch of FM Phase III commenced today, even as the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry said that it will abide by the court’s order.
Director-General (Media and Communications) Frank Noronha said no decision had been taken. “But we will go according to the advice of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA),” he said. It is learnt that the MHA is consulting its legal team to examine if the Delhi and Madras High Court orders permitting FM channels of the Sun Group to participate in the auctions should be challenged.
Any decision would depend on receiving the detailed Delhi High Court judgment as the judges only read out the operative portion in their verdict yesterday (26 July).
Furthermore, any appeal in the Supreme Court will have to be filed by the I&B Ministry after getting full inputs from the Home Ministry.
The I&B Ministry had in fact written to the Home Ministry earlier this month wanting full details of the denial of security clearance to Sun Group for purpose of preparing their arguments.
Sun Group runs 45 radio channels across the country including those of Suryan FM and Red FM and had gone to Court in Delhi and Chennai when its name did not figure in the first list of 21 pre-qualified bidders for e-auction of the first batch of private FM radio Phase III channels.
Earlier, I&B sources had told Indiantelevision.com that the government hoped to earn around Rs 600 crore from the 135 frequencies in 69 channels being auctioned in the first stage out of the total expectation of at least Rs 2,500 crore from the total 839 FM channels in 294 cities.
High Court
Delhi HC blocks illegal IPL 2026 streams, backs JioStar rights
Court orders swift takedowns, expands crackdown on piracy apps
NEW DELHI: In a timely move ahead of the cricketing season, the Delhi High Court has granted interim relief to JioStar India Private Limited, clamping down on illegal streaming of the TATA Indian Premier League 2026.
The court passed ex parte ad interim injunctions in two separate suits, restraining rogue websites and mobile applications from broadcasting IPL matches without authorisation. The tournament is set to begin on 28 March, making the timing of the order particularly significant.
Recognising JioStar’s exclusive digital and broadcast rights for the IPL cycle from 2023 to 2027, the court observed that unauthorised streaming would infringe its statutory and proprietary rights, potentially causing irreparable losses.
In one case, the court directed several identified websites to immediately stop hosting or streaming IPL content. It also issued a dynamic injunction, allowing JioStar to flag new infringing platforms in real time, which must then be blocked swiftly by domain registrars and internet service providers.
In a parallel order, the court turned its attention to piracy through mobile apps, particularly Android-based platforms distributing content via APK files. A broader dynamic+ injunction was granted, extending to future variants, mirror links and related interfaces, signalling a tougher stance on evolving piracy tactics.
The court also directed domain name registrars to suspend offending domains and share registrant details, including KYC and payment information. Internet service providers and telecom operators have been instructed to block access within strict timelines, in some instances within 36 hours. Both the Department of Telecommunications and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology have been asked to facilitate enforcement through necessary notifications.
Noting the fast-changing nature of digital piracy, the court emphasised the need for real-time enforcement tools to keep pace with anonymous and constantly shifting networks. It also underlined the commercial impact of piracy on legitimate rights holders.
The ruling reinforces the judiciary’s firm stance on protecting intellectual property in the digital age. For viewers, it is a reminder to stick to official platforms as the IPL season kicks off under tighter watch.
