NEW DEHI: The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal has directed Zee Entertainment Enterprise Ltd not to disconnect the signals to Bhaskar Cable Network till next date in view of controversy over amounts due.

However listing the matter for 29 August 2016, member B B Srivastava clarified that this does not preclude both sides to meet and resolve their disputes including concluding
a fresh interconnect agreement

The Tribunal also said the petitioner will continue to make payment pursuant to the agreement which expired on 31 March 2016.

The notice for disconnection was because of non-payment and non-cooperation for audit, according to ZEEL counsel Upender Thakur.

At the outset, Bhaskar counsel Navin Chawla drew attention of the Tribunal to the communication from the audit entity "Protivity" in the form of email dated 22 December last whereby it mentions about a "facilitating support" on behalf of the petitioner as well as furnishing all the papers for facilitating audit.

With regards to outstanding, Chawla claimed that update payment as on 31 July 2016 amounting to Rs 10,35,000 including taxes have been made; besides outstanding amount of Rs 3,15,133 including taxes. This was contested by Thakur and he stuck to the grounds that the outstanding as on date is Rs 24,30,473.

The matter was adjourned for a short while to enable Thakur to file reply clarifying these two issues. The reply must be filed within one week's time and a copy shall be provided to the petitioner for filing rejoinder, if any, within one week thereafter.