NEW DELHI: The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) has directed Kolkata based multi system operator (MSO) Meghbela Cable and Broadband Services and Taj Television to get their financial dispute resolved before the Mediation Centre.

 
Senior representatives of both parties have been asked to appear before the Centre on 23 January.

 
Meanwhile, Meghbela’s counsel Vineet Bhagat has handed over five cheques aggregating to the sum of Rs 16,45,580 to to Taj TV counsel Upendra Thakur towards payment of earlier dues.

Bhagat stated that the payment was without prejudice to the rights and contention of his client.

Thakur suggested that the matter may be referred to the Mediation Centre where the parties may have a reconciliation of their accounts and further try to resolve their disputes. Bhagat had no objection to the course suggested by Thakur.

 
TDSAT chairman Justice Aftab Alam and member Kuldip Singh said in their order, “Needless to say that both sides will be represented by officers who are in a position to take decisions on behalf of their respective principals in course of the mediation proceedings.”

 
When the issue had come up before the Tribunal last year following Meghbela challenging a disconnection notice, it had been suggested to the parties to hold discussions to reconcile the amounts. Taj TV had also been asked not to carry a scroll against the MSO on its channels. However, a joint meeting on 26 December failed to result in any compromise.