News Headline
Service providers can keep deal terms confidential: Trai
NEW DELHI: Broadcast regulator Telecom Authority of India (Trai) has said that details of commercial dealings filed with it could be kept confidential, but a service provider shall have to furnish a non-confidential summary of the portion sought to be kept confidential.
In a statement Trai today said that regulation on access to information, including telecom and broadcast sectors, has following features:
(i) The service provider claiming confidentiality of documents filed with the Authority shall also give reasons for keeping the information confidential. The service provider shall also furnish a non-confidential summary of the portion sought to be kept confidential.
(ii) Any service provider seeking disclosure of confidential information should substantiate that the disclosure be in larger interest of the public. The request for disclosure should clearly state the purpose and the reasons for which the information is required.
(iii) Information covered by certain categories shall be exempt from disclosure under the provisions of the regulation. The areas are trade and commercial secrets and information protected by law; commercially and financially sensitive information, the disclosure of which is likely to cause unfair gain or unfair loss to the service provider; or to compromise his competitive position.
(iv) Where the Authority proposes to reject the request for maintaining confidentiality it shall inform the service provider, and give him an opportunity to make a representation against the same.
On consideration of his representation, if any, the Authority shall take a final decision. Where the Authority rejects the request of the service provider, it shall communicate to him in writing, the reasons for doing so.
The Authority had issued “The Register of Interconnection Regulation, 1999” and “The Register of Interconnection Agreement (Broadcasting and Cable Services) Regulation 2004” with an aim to provide how members of the public can access information relating to interconnection agreements in the telecom and broadcasting sector.
The reporting system on Accounting Regulation, 2004 provides for confidentiality of the financial information submitted under various provisions of the Regulation. Trai can also call for information under Section 12 of the TRAI Act from any service provider in relation with its affairs.
The Regulations already issued by TRAI do not provide guidance on disclosure of information available with the Authority for which confidentiality has been claimed. The present regulation is being issued to fill up this gap.
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.
