Broadcast dispute: Sun Tv asked to submit court order

Broadcast tribunal Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal asked Sun Tv on Tuesday to produce a copy of the stay order granted by Madras high court on its interim order directing it to share signals with direct-to-home operator TataSky.

The Kalanidhi Maran-owned Sun Tv told the tribunal that since the high court had granted a stay, it should not proceed on the matter.

According to Sun Tv counsel Vivek Sibal, the channel had filed two writ petitions before the high court challenging TDSAT's interim order of March 18 and April 3 that asked the company to give signals for its 20 channels to TataSky on a-la-carte (pick and choose) basis.

On this, TDSAT Chairman Justice Arun Kumar directed Sibal to produce a copy of the court order.

Earlier, Sibal requested some time for producing the order,

which was accepted by the tribunal. "Let's wait and see directions of the Madras High Court order... give him 5-7 days time for that," Kumar said and posted the matter for hearing on April 16.

Justice Mohan Ram of Madras High Court stayed TDSAT's order on Monday on a petition by Sun Tv. During proceedings on Tuesday, TataSky contended the hearing should go on as stay by the High Court is only on the interim order and it does not apply on the whole proceedings.

Following the interim order, TataSky had filed an execution application of TDSAT's order, on which the tribunal on April 3 asked Sun to provide channels within three days.

On Monday, TataSky filed an application demanding a fine on sun Tv for disobeying the tribunal's order. Sun Tv has been arguing it had no channels on a-la-carte basis and only has a bouquet of 20 channels.