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Trai recommends CAS suspension for 3 months
MUMBAI: The regulator today bowled a beamer that is bound to send the votaries of conditional access into a spin.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has recommended that the 10 July 2003 notification on conditional access in the country be either denotified or kept in abeyance for a period of three months.
Trai, which submitted its interim recommendations on conditional access system (CAS) today to the information and broadcasting ministry, observed that, after being appointed as the regulator for the broadcast sector in January this year, it has ‘obtained substantial information and views, and is in a position to take the process forward with a more detailed Consultation Paper.’
CAS will be off in Chennai too
If, as expected, the I&B ministry accepts the regulator’s decision, CAS will be deferred in all the four metros till the time Trai reaches a final understanding on the matter. As of now only Chennai has implemented CAS.
The authority, which met with broadcasters, MSOs, representatives of cable operators and consumer groups, and the four state governments that have to implement CAS also studied cable regulatory practices as followed in countries like Australia, Canada, the European Union, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Philippines, South Africa and the UK, before making its assessment.
The Authority, while making its recommendations, has maintained that it is not discussing the desirability and continuity of CAS, but how best it can be implemented without there being any undue exploitation of the consumers. The salient points of Trai’s assessments are –
Patent illegalities being committed
# The absence of regulation of cable TV in India has led to a situation where patent illegalities are being committed. The ground reality is that, even in CAS areas, most cable operators are allowing the reception of pay channels to subscribers without addressable systems. In such a situation, Trai cannot fix the rates for the cable operators to charge from the subscribers for showing the pay channels since that would amount to endorsement of an illegal activity.
#The problem in implementing CAS can only be sorted out after Trai discusses the issues raised by the state governments in detail. Trai has already called such a meeting. “In the interim, if CAS continues, we would only be perpetuating the illegalities being committed in areas under CAS,” points out the authority.
# The ground realities also stipulate that there are financial constraints at the operator level because the fragmented Indian market has very few well-managed and well-funded multi cable system operators (MSOs).
# The current ground realities of the Indian market show that a volume-led deployment of CAS is unlikely till the consumers are confident that acceptance of CAS would not lead to higher charges and deterioration in services, say the recommendations.
Subscriber the victim
As a result of these ground realities, it is the subscriber who is the victim of the present day situation. The subscriber is, accordingly, faced with increase in cable tariffs which may have no direct co-relation with cost or any other cogent reasoning / basis and in the absence of a regulatory system all the three ladders in the cable TV system are blaming each other for exploiting the consumer.
Pertinently, points out Trai, this is the situation even after Trai issued its order dated 15 January 2004 specifying as ceiling the charges prevalent on 26 December 2003 as the authority has received reports that fewer channels were being shown or in some cases even attempts to increase tariff have been made. Besides, some type of set top boxes commonly available are not suitable from the point of view of portability from one area to another even in the same city, and the consumer consequently suffers.
CAS should be denotified or kept in abeyance
In conclusion, says Trai, the only feasible course of action seems to be that CAS should be denotified or kept in abeyance till the authority finalises the regulation on CAS after the final consultation paper. This paper will be issued within about a week based on the comments on the preliminary consultation note received from the stakeholders; the Authority’s interaction with broadcasters, MSOs, representatives of cable operators and consumer groups; views of the State Governments implementing CAS and the problems faced by them; and a study of the regulatory systems and best practices in other countries.
The detailed Consultation process is expected to take a further period of about three months. In the meanwhile, the authority has recommended staying of CAS in the four metros, as “otherwise the consumers will continue to be exploited and also the denotification or putting notification in abeyance would take us out of the present illogical situation where for different reasons CAS has not been implemented in Mumbai and Kolkata and also partially in Delhi, and is being opposed by State Government in Chennai.”
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.
