NEW DELHI: Star India was today directed by the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Arbitration Tribunal (TDSAT) to restore signals to Vishal Cable Network provided the latter makes an on account payment of Rs 15 lakh to the company in three equal fortnightly installments.

TDSAT has directed Vishal Cable Network to pay the first installment of Rs 5 lakh in the course of the day and another sum of Rs 5 lakh by 24 June and the third installment for the same amount by 9 July.

The payment “shall be on account and without prejudice to the rights and contentions of the parties.”

The matter will come up on 24 July for further directions.

In the meanwhile, the parties are directed to have reconciliation of accounts to ascertain the exact dues against the petitioner.

The vacation bench of TSDAT chairman Aftab Alam and member B B Srivastava said that during the pendency of this petition, Vishal Cable will continue to make payments of the monthly subscription fees on the basis of invoices raised by Star India.

In case of default in payment of the installments and / or monthly subscription fees as per the invoices of Star India, it will be open to it to disconnect the supply of its signals without any further orders from the Tribunal.

Star India was directed to file the reply within four weeks from today; and rejoinder, if any, may be filed within two weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of the reply.  

The petition was filed against the disconnection notice of 12 May issued under Clause 6.1 of the 2012 interconnect regulation. In pursuance of the notice, Star India has disconnected the supply of its signals to the petitioner on 5 June.

The disconnection notice is based on the grounds of non-submission of SMS reports, non-payment of license fees and non-cooperation in audit. According to the notice, the dues of license fee against the petitioner amount to Rs 13.2 lakh as on 31 March this year.

Vishal Cable has been directed to give Star India SMS reports for the months of April and May 2015 within two days from today, i.e. 11 June. Star can commence the audit of the Vishal Cable’s technical system on 16 June and the Vishal will offer full cooperation in conduct of the audit.