Bombay HC upholds TRAI’s NTO 2.0 except second provision of twin conditions

Bombay HC upholds TRAI’s NTO 2.0 except second provision of twin conditions

Broadcasters’ challenge against the regulation has failed

Bombay HC

KOLKATA: After a long legal battle between broadcasters and the telecom regulatory authority of India (TRAI), the Bombay High Court on Wednesday pronounced judgment on the amended new tariff order (NTO 2.0) case. 

The court has upheld the constitutional validity of NTO 2.0 but has partly struck down the second provision of the twin conditions.

As per the second provision, the a-la-carte rates of each pay channel (MRP), forming part of a bouquet, shall in no case exceed three times the average rate of a pay channel of the bouquet of which such pay channel is a part. The court has mentioned the clause as an arbitrary condition. 

The Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF), along with other broadcasters had filed a writ petition in the Bombay High Court against TRAI in January 2020, soon after the regulations came into place.

More to follow...