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SC issues notice to TRAI in NTO 2.0 case
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued a notice to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on the petitions filed by broadcasters against the Bombay high court judgment upholding the New Tariff Order (NTO) 2.0.
The bench of Chief Justice NV Ramana, Justice Surya Kant, and Justice Aniruddha Bose presided over the hearing. It has also directed TRAI to file its reply before the next date of hearing.
On 30 June, the Bombay HC had upheld the constitutional validity of the NTO 2.0 while striking down one of the twin conditions relating to the average pricing of a channel in a bouquet terming it as ‘arbitrary’. The court had also extended interim relief to the broadcasters for six weeks, and asked the regulatory body not to take any coercive action against them in case of non-compliance.
The judgment was challenged by the Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation (IBDF), and several individual broadcasters including Zee, Sony, TV 18, Star India, and Film and Television Guild of India Ltd in the Supreme Court. On 6 August, the apex court asked them to get back to it with slimmer petitions and posted the matter for hearing on 18 August.
Among other things, the New Tariff Order (NTO) 2.0 issued by TRAI in January, 2020 prescribed linkage between a-la-carte price and Bouquet and reduced the price cap on the subscription fees for pay channels. So, TV broadcasters can now include a channel in a pack only if it is priced at Rs 12 or less than that. Earlier, this limit was Rs. 19. According to broadcasters, NTO 2.0 is ‘violative of their fundamental right’, and could prove detrimental to the overall sectoral growth.
The matter is next listed on 7 September for consideration of stay on NTO 2.0.
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.
