Mumbai, Sept 10: Mumbai High Court today refused to stay the implementation of Conditional Access System (CAS) in the city and adjourned a bunch of PILs for final orders in January. CAS was to be introduced in South Mumbai with effect from September one but in view of the fierce opposition from Shiv Sena and other quarters it remained a non-starter. Hearing the PILs, Chief Justice C K Thakker and Justice A Oka said they were not inclined to grant the interim relief of staying CAS in Mumbai. The judges said the decision would depend on the final outcome of the PILs in third week of January next.

The PILs prayed for staying the implementation of CAS in Mumbai saying it was not in public interest but was being introduced for the benefit of broadcasters. The PILs were filed by Kirit Somaiya, BJP MP, Mangal Prabhat Lodha, BJP MLA, Subha Rao of citizens for just society and others.

The PILs argued that Zee Television were getting Rs 592 crores revenue from advertisements per annum while Star TV earned double this amount. Hence these and other channels should be treated as free channels and CAS should not be introduced, they submitted. In New Delhi, implementation of CAS had been deferred because of state assembly elections as the ruling party feared that they may not get votes from general public.

Bureau Report