TRAI can regulate broadcasting services: SC

Earlier, the petitioner, Star India, aggrieved by an amendment to the Telecom Act that empowered the Government to bring broadcasting services within the ambit of TRAI, challenged it before the Delhi High Court. However, the high court dismissed the petition on July 9. Holding that there was no “conflict of interest,” a bench comprising Justices H K Sema and Markandeya Katju said: “We should respect the Parliament. We cannot question it.” Appearing for Star India, senior advocate F S Nariman contended that the amendment to the Telecom Act was unconstitutional and the proviso introduced in the Act was contrary to what was envisaged in the original Act. “The amendment amounts to re-writing the Act,” he argued as he pointed out that Telecom Act had excluded broadcasting services, but after amendment the services were brought under the TRAI’s ambit.