Cap on ads on news channels: HC restrains TRAI from coercive

The Delhi High Court today directed Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) not to take any coercive action against news broadcasters in the case related to cap on advertisements on television channels.
A bench of Chief Justice N V Ramana and Justice Manmohan admitted the news broadcasters' plea for March 13 and said that "till then no coercive action will be taken by TRAI."
The bench also asked the petitioner broadcasters to submit a weekly report on the duration of advertisements they carry on their channels to the regulatory authority.
The court's order came on a plea filed by the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) challenging TRAI's regulation mandating only 12 minute per hour cap on advertisements.

Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) had dismissed the broadcasters appeal last week following the Supreme Court's judgment which said TDSAT has no jurisdiction to hear against regulation framed by TRAI.
The apex court had also made it clear that the aggrieved parties could challenge the validity of TRAI's regulations in the high court.

In August, TRAI had approached a city court against the news channels for ignoring the advertising limits notified by the authority in May 2012.
The broadcasters had filed the appeal in TDSAT challenging TRAI's jurisdiction on limiting the advertisements.
Claiming that Telecom Regulatory Authority Act empowers the regulatory authority to make regulations and rules to carry out its purpose in the telecom and broadcast sector, TRAI had come out with Quality of Service (QoS) regulation which mandates the channels to show not more than 12 minutes of advertisements and promotional content per hour.