NEW DELHI: The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Arbitration Tribunal (TDSAT) has asked Headend in the Sky (HITS) operator Noida Software Technology Park Ltd (NSTPL) to not disconnect signals to Guru Kripa Cable Network subject to the petitioner making certain payments.
Member Kuldip Singh sitting in the vacation bench admitted the petition by the Cable Network.
The Tribunal has directed payment of Rs 60,000 within three weeks from today and another payment of Rs 55,000 within three weeks thereafter.
While the cable network admits dues of Rs 1,13,956, its counsel told the Tribunal that the amount needs to be reconciled since it had made some excess payment earlier.
The Tribunal directed that NSTPL will file its reply within four weeks and rejoinder if any will be filed within two weeks of receipt of the reply.
The matter will now go before the Registrar on 12 August for getting the pleadings completed, framing of issues and if the parties concur, taking evidences etc.
Apart from the payment of the dues, Guru Kripa Cable Network will continue to make payment of the monthly subscription fees on the basis of invoices raised by the NSTPL.
The payments will be without prejudice to the rights and contentions of the parties.
The cable network told the Tribunal that some of their Set Top Boxes have been deactivated by NSTPL and they are not receiving all the channels on the other activated STBs. However, NSTPL counsel Joby Varghese made a categorical statement that all the channels are being given for the activated STBs. However, some STBs for which CAFs have not been submitted by the cable network have been disconnected.
Varghese stated that these STBs will be activated immediately but the petitioner must supply CAFs for the same, as required by the regulation.
Cable network counsel Mayank Kshirasagar stated that the CAFs will be supplied within two weeks from today.
The Tribunal said its order should not come in the way of the parties meeting to reconcile their accounts. The balance dues, found if any, shall be cleared by the network.
