Sunday, March 20 2005 11:44 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Telecom Disputes Settlement Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) has initiated suo motu proceedings against Star TV network and SET India Pvt Ltd for violating its orders by disrupting their signals to a Kolkata-based Multi Service Operator (MSO) thereby depriving 58,000 subscribers for eight days.

A TDSAT Bench comprising chairman Justice D P Wadhwa and members Vinod Vaish and D P Sehgal asked the two private TV networks to reply before April 5, 2005, the next date of hearing, why action should not be taken against them.

The Calcutta Communication Ltd had approached TDSAT on February 28 seeking to restrain the channels, which were threatening to cut off TV signals to it on the ground that the MSO was re transmitting their signals to areas beyond its jurisdiction.

The TDSAT, after hearing the counsel for the MSO Maninder Singh and that for the private channels Jayant Bhushan, Gopal Jain and S Ganesh, said, "Cutting off signals after giving two days gives rise to serious consequence for the consumers."

"No MSO or broadcaster can give two days' notice without any particulars and then sit back and leave the subscribers in lurch," the TDSAT had observed on February 28 and directed restoration of the signals to the MSO by the channels.