Dubbing the handling of conditional access system as a "monumental blunder", a forum of 50 consumer organisations has sought the prime minister's intervention in ensuring that a regulatory mechanism is put in place and a "transparent and consumer friendly" system rolled out.

"If elections are not due immediately in Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai, should CAS be implemented in those cities with impunity," Consumer Coordination Council director S Krishnan said in a letter to the prime minister.

It also said that it was more appalling to think of the implication, that once the elections were over in Delhi, CAS will be implemented "because thereafter the government cares two hoots for the electorate."

The council said the recent reports on conflicting interests of various stakeholders like broadcasters and multi-system operators had left the consumers 'confused" and made it clear that they were being thrown from the frying pan into the fire.

It urged the prime minister to bring the "mess" to an end "by a fully transparent and consumer friendly system along with a properly constituted regulatory mechanism, if at all CAS is to be implemented for the good of the people."