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Jio freebies: TDSAT puts off Airtel-Idea hearing to May
NEW DELHI: The Telecom Dispute Settlement and Appellate Tribunal has put off to early next month the petitions by Bharti Airtel and Idea Cellular challenging the decision of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India to allow Reliance Jio to continue free offers beyond the stipulated ninety days.
Both operators have alleged anti-competitive practices by Jio that has led to losses of several hundred million rupees. Reliance Jio had created a flurry when it appeared just two months before demonetization with free offers,
The Tribunal will hear the petitions on 3 May, along with an interim application moved by Airtel objecting to the alleged delays by Jio while withdrawing its three-month complimentary ‘Summer Surprise Offer’. The inaugural free voice and data plans had been launched by Jio in September last year and extended in December till March 2017.
Airtel and Idea moved the tribunal against the TRAI order that allowed Jio to provide free services beyond the stipulated period. Airtel also objected to the continuation of the scheme’s benefits for those who had already subscribed to the said offer before it was withdrawn. Jio had offered subscribers to continue with concessional rates if they had been on its rolls by 31 March.
TRAI had on 31 January held that Jio’s free voice calls and data plan were not in violation of the regulatory guidelines. It held that the ‘Happy New Year Offer’ launched by Jio on 4 December 2016 offered different benefits and was therefore not the same as the earlier Offer. Earlier this month, Airtel moved the TDSAT on alleged delay by Jio in withdrawing its ‘Summer Surprise’ offer.
The interim application pertains to the Summer Surprise plan of Reliance Jio under which it was giving three-month complimentary offer of unlimited data usage and free calls on payment of a minimum Rs 303, which was withdrawn after TRAI said that it was not in accordance with the regulatory framework.
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.
