HC declines to stay TRAI clauses

The Madras High Court today refused to stay Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's innerconnect regulations on tarrif.
A bench of Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar refused to stay the clauses turning down pleas of Star India Private Limited and Vijay Television Private Limited.
The bench said it was of the view that the petitioners have not made out a "strong and prima facie case" for interim stay and fixed their main pleas for final hearing on June 12.
The two firms had moved the court challenging the TRAI regulations.
The TRAI had notified some regulations with regard to the content carriage by the broadcasters after obtaining an order from the Supreme Court on March 3.

Both Star India Private Limited and Vijay Television Private Limited originally filed petitions in the Madras High Court challenging the draft regulations. The court issued status quo on the same on January 9 this year.

The TRAI had filed a special leave petition in the apex court, which on March 3 permitted the TRAI to notify the regulations.
Challenging some clauses of these notifications again, the petitioners filed miscellaneous petitions in the high court and sought an interim stay.
The petitioners contended that TRAI can regulate carriage but not content.
When the petitions came up, the court said it was of the view that the petitioners have not made out a strong and prima facie case for interim stay.