HC dismisses petition on Govt Cable TV Corp

Chennai, Jan 31 (UNI) Madras High Court today dismissed a writ petition, challenging the Tamil Nadu Government's move to take MSOs on lease by the State-owned Arasu Cable TV Corporation, after the State Government told the court that it intended to operate cable TV network on its own.

The State Government disclosed its stand that it would run cable TV operations, using its own infrastructure facilities, in a counter affidavit filed before the court today.

The first bench, comprising Chief Justice A P Shah and Mr Justice K Ibrahim Kaleefullah, accepted the Government's stand and dismissed the petition.

In the counter, Arasu Cable TV Corporation Chairman and Managing Director Brijeshwar Singh said the company's board meeting held on January seven had decided ''to set up its own cable headends and control rooms at various sites in Tamil Nadu''.

He said the Board had also decided that it was not worthwhile to pursue the option of leasing the local cable operators' equipment and facilities and concluded that the company should proceed with the option of operating directly with its own headends.

Regarding Chennai, it was decided to defer the consideration of tender till the permission sought to function as MSO from the Centre was decided, he said.

One Sureshkumar, in his writ petition, had challenged the tender notification issued by the Arasu Cable TV Corporation to take MSOs on lease.

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