NEW DELHI: The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Arbitration Tribunal (TDSAT) has given Chennai’s Sun Distribution Services permission to disconnect the signals to Digicable Network (India), Andhra Pradesh if it fails to pay the Rs 26 lakh of monthly installment and monthly licence fee for August within a week.

The order by TDSAT chairman Justice Aftab Alam and members Kuldip Singh and B B Srivastava was given after being informed that Digicable had paid the fee upto July in accordance with an earlier order of the Tribunal.

The amount of Rs 26 lakh comprises the monthly installment of Rs 19 lakh and the monthly license fees of Rs 7 lakh.

However, the Tribunal made it clear that as and when Digicable clears the dues and makes up-to-date payment of monthly installment as well as monthly licence fee in terms of the interim order passed on 6 May, Sun Distribution should resume the supply of its signals to the respondent.

The Tribunal noted that Digicable had made the payments up to July “with great difficulty and after seeking repeated adjournments.”

Digicable had told the Tribunal that it would pay the monthly licence fee by 15 September and instalment by September. 

The Tribunal said, “From the conduct of the respondent, as would appear from the previous orders passed in this case, we are satisfied that it does not deserve any further indulgence of the kind” sought by Digicable.