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TDSAT directs Induslnd to pay Rs 26.55 crore to Taj TV subject to verification of March payment
NEW DELHl: The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal has directed IndusInd Media & Communications Ltd to pay at least the minimum Rs.26,55,14,607 demanded by Taj TV subject to verification of payments made in March. Consequently, Indusind Counsel Vandana D Jaisingh handed over to Taj TV counsel Tejveer Singh Bhatia, four cheques amounting to Rs.10 crores.
Chairman Justice Aftab Alam and member B B Srivastava directed Indusind to pay the balance amount of Rs.16,55,14,607 subject to verification of the amount paid by it in the month of March 2016.
The cheques would be dated 31 March but Bhatia said that they would be presented for encashment before the bank only in the first week of May. Apart from this payment, Indusind was liable to make payment for the month of April subject to any special discount, if any, in terms of the agreement.
At the outset, the Tribunal noted that during the pendency of the petition, the two sides had executed a memo of understanding (MOU) on 30 March covering the period 01 April 2015 to 31 March 2016, that is to say, the period when there was no agreement between the parties and Indusind continued to receive signals from Taj TV.
But the Tribunal noted that: “It is ironical that having executed the agreement on 30 March, the parties are once again in dispute in regard to the Indusind’s liability for payment under the MoU.”
On a prima facie reading, the MoU crystallised Indusind’s liability up to 31 January 2016 at the sum of Rs.43,61,34,240. Beyond 31 January, the monthly subscription fees for both Taj and Turner TV channels for the months of February and March 2016 came to Rs.15,41,74,250 (at the rate of Rs.7,70,87,125 for each month for Taj and Turner TV channels). Thus, the total liability of Indusind up to 31 March.came to Rs.44,59,15,007 but taking into account certain payments made by it in the month of March, the liability went down to Rs.43,61,34,240.
Indusind also claimed certain deductions in terms of the special discount given by the respondent after the execution of the agreement. Indusind further claimed certain deductions on account of TDS.
Bhatia submitted before the Tribunal a chart that took into account the special discounts and on a deduction made for the same and Indusind’s liability further went down to Rs.26,55,14,607.
According to this chart, the collection received from Indusind in March 2016 amounted to Rs.9,97,80,767 but Jaisingh, wanted to verify the correctness of this figure as she said the payment made by Indusind in March 2016 could be a little more than the figure shown in Bhatia’s chart.
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.
