NEW DELHI: The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Arbitration Tribunal (TDSAT) has directed Siticable Network to not disconnect the supply of signals to 119 cable operators represented by the Bhopal Cable Operator Association.

TDSAT chairman Aftab Alam along with members Kuldip Singh and B B Srivastava gave the order in view of a statement made by the LCO association’s counsel Nittin Bhatia that all due payment had been made.

Bhatia had said the LCOs have made up-to-date payments as per the invoices issued by Siticable and continue to make payment at the rate at which invoices of June 2015 were issued.

Bhatia told the Tribunal that he had the authorisation from 67 cable operators but would get authorisation from the remaining 52 operators within a week.

The Tribunal said the status of any cable operator who is in dues will be determined on the basis of reconciliation of accounts and dues if any would be cleared within two weeks from the ascertainment of the said amount.

The Tribunal also said that the parties would be well advised to resolve their disputes through the process of mediation and directed both sides to appear before the Mediation Centre on 7 September.

The primary grievance of the Association is that the respondent is unilaterally and steadily increasing the monthly subscription fees payable by them. According to Bhatia, the cable operators paid the monthly subscription at the rate of Rs 30 per STB up to March 2013 and thereafter at Rs 60 per STB and now the invoices being raised by the respondent are at the rate of Rs 83.11 paise (excluding taxes) for the package of channels supplied by it.

Siticable counsel Tejveer Singh Bhatia did not have full instructions in the matter but stated