HC grants another extension of five days

Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar passed the interim injunction till Friday on a petition filed by cable TV operators who sought further extension, citing difficulty in procuring lakhs of set-top boxes for the process.

The court had given an extension of five days on October 31 when the deadline set by the government for cable TV digitisation in the four Metros, including Chennai, ended.

The counsel for Tamil Nadu government sought time to file an affidavit stating the time limit within which 100 per cent set top boxes could be provided to all customers.

The Centre in its counter affidavit said that as per data available, as on October 30, the progress of digitization of cable TV in Chennai was 62 per cent and an alternative digital platform together with DTH was around 86 per cent.

The counsel for the petitioner also sought time to implead eight other Chennai-based cable TV operators to state how much further time is required to provide set top boxes to subscribers.

Following this, the judge said "in such circumstances, post this case on November 9 on top of the list. Interim order already granted is extended till then."