Kal cables challenges licence cancellation

The Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry has cancelled the provisional and permanent registration of the multi-system operator, part of Kalanithi Maran-headed Sun Group.

Even as the Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry has cancelled the provisional and permanent registration of Kal Cables Pvt Ltd., (part of Kalanithi Maran-headed Sun Group), the multi-system operator on Wednesday challenged the Ministry’s August 20 order in the Madras High Court, stating that it was done without issuing a show-cause notice.

The order said the Union Home Ministry had denied security clearance to the MSO.

It instructed the operator to wind up its activity within 15 days and immediately inform the customers by running a scroll. A copy of the scroll should be sent to the I&B Ministry. Justice V. Ramasubramanian adjourned the matter to Thursday.

The petitioner, the MSO’s managing director, Vittal Sampathkumaran, said it was granted provisional permission to operate in the areas notified in the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act and later for 10 years.