NEW DELHI: Following the issuance of a showcause notice by the information and broadcasting ministry to Nimbus Communications for failing to give live feed of cricket matches to Prasar Bharati, the broadcaster today urged the Delhi High Court to provide it protection from a possible cancellation of licence.

However, Justice BD Ahmed, before whom the matter was mentioned this morning, said the broadcaster should raise the issue before the Division Bench that is already hearing two cases on the issue - one by Nimbus who own Neo Sports, challenging the Sports Broadcasting (Mandatory Sharing with Prasar Bharati) Ordinance 2007 and an appeal by Prasar Bharati against a single bench order permitting a seven-minute deferred telecast of the cricket matches.
Justice Ahmed said: "It is improper for the single bench to pass any order when the matter is being heard by a Division Bench (headed by Justice Vikramajit Sen)."

The ministry, in its notice issued on 13 February, had asked Nimbus to file its reply by this evening. Under the Ordinance, which was promulgated with retrospective effect, the Neo Sports channel can face cancellation of licence for violation of the Uplink and Downlink Guidelines issued in November 2005 and / or a fine up to Rs 10 million.