Discovery Communications Files Plea In Delhi High Court Challenging Fresh Consultation Paper Issued By TRAI

Discovery Communications has filed a petition in the Delhi High Court seeking a stay order on the new consultation paper issued by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on August 16.

The petition has submitted that the TRAI’s new consultation paper on tariff related issues for broadcasting and cable services is “marred by judicial impropriety” and fails to conform to “fundamental tenets of transparency and objectivity”.

It may be recalled that the Delhi High Court had listed the broadcaster’s earlier petition challenging the entire new regulatory framework for the broadcast sector by the regulator for final arguments starting September 19.
The broadcaster had filed the new petition seeking a stay order on the new consultation paper issued by TRAI on August 16, which the company felt would render its earlier petition infructuous.

However, the court has refused to give an interim relief, and asked the petitioner to approach it again in case TRAI makes any changes in its framework.

The broadcaster’s plea has argued that the TRAI‘s consultation paper is based on a “pre-determined notion” that broadcasters have distorted the broadcasting market and consumer choice.

The TRAI paper is allegedly based on the premise that broadcaster have done this through perverse pricing as well as deep discounting and have therefore called for suggestions on ways and means to remedy the situation, the petition stated.