I&B Ministry cancels Sun Group’s cable TV Network, Sun says victim of political change in Delhi

The Sun Group has approached the High Court against the cancellation order

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Sameera Ahmed & Dhanya Rajendran | The News Minute | August 27, 2014 | 08.00 pm IST The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) has cancelled the licence of KAL Cable Pvt Limited which runs Sumangali Cable Vision(SCV), the Multi System Operator division of the Maran family-owned Sun Group, preventing it from operating in Chennai. An order from the I&B ministry dated 20th August, 2014 which The News Minute is in possession of, says “ The registration to operate as a Multi System Operator is being cancelled." The order addressed to KAL Cable Pvt Limited which is a holding company that owns Sun Group’s entire cable network including SCV says “The Ministry of Home Affairs has now denied security clearance to manufacturers KAL Cables Pvt Limited for registration as MSO… In view of denial of security clearance by the MHA regular registration cannot be granted.”The order goes on to say “Protection of the interest of consumers is one of the mandates of the ministry. Accordingly, considering the large subscriber base, MSO is given a period of 15 days time from the date of receipt of this cancellation order to wind up operations and switch off signal.” Subscribers of the SCV in Chennai are to be informed of the developments and asked to switch over to other operators via scroll running on the television screens. Interestingly, the I&B ministry under UPA II government seems to have given a permanent registration to KAL Cable Network in June 2012 for a period of ten years, but with effect from 2006, in lieu of security clearance. The Sun Group has approached the Madras High Court to file a petition for stay order against the cancellation. It told the court on Wednesday that the group was a victim of a change in the political regime. The issue brought before Justice Ramasubramaniam of the Madras High Court has been adjourned until tomorrow.

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