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TDSAT defers Dish TV-MTV case hearing to 20 July
MUMBAI: Earlier this week, Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) deferred yet again a case relating to interconnection agreements between a DTH service and a content provider.
The Dish TV vs. MTV case will now be heard on 20 July as the new chairman of the disputes tribunal wanted some more time to study the case and MTV, part of One Alliance bouquet, reuqested more time to file additional replies.
Dish TV, 20 per cent owned by Zee Telefilms, had moved TDSAT in May against MTV’s unwillingness to come on to its DTH platform.
The MTV- Dish case has been pending at the disputes tribunal after an initial hearing as the chairman of the organization retired in July, while the search for a new candidate was started.
The case is likely to have an important bearing on supply of content to various platforms under norms specified by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), sector regulator.
Despite a Trai specification, accepted by the government too, no Star or SET/One Alliance channel has formally decided to join the Dish TV platform though negotiations are said to be on.
In a recent interview to Indiantelevision.com, Star India CEO Peter Mukerjea hinted that protracted negotiations between Dish and Star may soon be successfully concluded.
Though Zee Telefilms additional vice-chairman Jawahar Goel refused to throw further light on the TDSAT case when contacted, he did admit that presently, Dish TV has capacity to accommodate channels from only one of the three non Zee bouquets of Star, One Alliance and Sun TV on a first-come-first-serve basis.
Interestingly, Sab TV, previously owned by the Sri Adhikari Brothers, was part of the Dish TV platform, but hopped out after the channel was taken over by Sony Entertainment Television (SET) some time back.
After the acquisition, SET converted Sab TV into a pay channel. “Now Sab TV would have to be negotiated along with other Sony channels for being on Dish TV,” Goel explained.
However, since these technical aspects are not widely known to the present subscribers of Dish TV, complaints have been pouring in over the disappearance of Sab TV from the country’s first DTH platform.
Asked whether Dish TV, presently offering approximately 120 TV and radio channels, had any intention of moving TDSAT on the issue of Sab TV,Goel did not give any firm commitment.
According to norms specified by Trai, a DTH service provider cannot offer exclusive content and all content has to be made available (on a commercial basis) to all platforms on a non-discriminatory basis.
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.
