Dhayanithi P v. The Secretary

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 30.04.2025

CORAM:

THE HON'BLE MRS JUSTICE J. NISHA BANU AND THE HON'BLE MRS JUSTICE S.SRIMATHY and W.M.P.(MD)No.9663 of 2025 P.Dhayanithi

...Petitioner

-Vs1.The Secretary, Ministry For Information and Broadcasting Government of India, 2, Krishna Menon Marg, New Delhi - 110 001.

2.The Chairman, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, Jawaharlal Nehru Marg, (Opp. to Ramleela Maidhan) New Delhi - 110 002.

3.The Secretary, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, Jawaharlal Nehru Marg, (Opp. to Ramleela Maidhan), New Delhi - 110 002.

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4.The Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation, Rep by its Managing Director, No.807, 4th Floor, Pt.Lee Chengalvarayan Naicker Building, Anna Salai (Mount Road), Chennai 600 002.

5.The District Collector / Nodal Officer (Cable TV), Thoothukudi, Thoothukudi District.

...Respondents

PRAYER:Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for the issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents No.1 to 3 to prohibit the 4th respondent from acting as an Multi System Operator (MSO) in the State of Tamil Nadu and close all the operations relating to (MSO) Network of the 4th respondent in accordance with the notification of the 1st respondent dated 21.10.2022, based on the representation of the petitioner dated 22.04.2025.

For Petitioner : Mr.Isaac Mohanlal Senior Counsel for Mr.B.Prasanna Vinoth For R1 to R3 : Mr.K.Govindarajan Deputy Solicitor General of India for Mr.B.Ponnu Pandi

ORDER

(Order of the Court was made by J.NISHA BANU, J.) By consent, this writ petition is taken up for admission at the admission stage itself.

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2.The petitioner has filed this writ petition to direct the respondents 1 to 3 to prohibit the 4th respondent from acting as an Multi System Operator (MSO) in the State of Tamil Nadu and close all the operations relating to (MSO) Network of the 4th respondent in accordance with the notification of the 1st respondent dated 21.10.2022, based on the representation of the petitioner dated 22.04.2025.

3.The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that though the petitioner has sought for a larger relief in this writ petition, he would be satisfied if a direction is issued to the respondents 1 to 3 to consider and dispose of the representation of the petitioner dated 22.04.2025, in accordance with law, within a time frame.

4.The learned Deputy Solicitor General appearing on behalf of the official respondents submits that the representation of the petitioner would be considered and appropriate orders would be passed in accordance with law within a period that may be stipulated by this Court. 5.Considering the limited scope of the prayer sought for by the petitioner, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the claim made by the 3/5

petitioner either in the representation or in the affidavit filed in support of the Writ Petition, this Writ Petition is disposed of with a direction to the respondents 1 to 3 to consider the representation of the petitioner dated 22.04.2025 by giving an opportunity of hearing to the petitioner and pass appropriate orders on merits and in accordance with law within a period of twelve [12] weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.

(J.N.B.,J.) (S.S.Y.,J.) 30.04.2025 Index:Yes/No Internet: Yes/No To 1.The Secretary, Ministry For Information and Broadcasting Government of India, 2, Krishna Menon Marg, New Delhi - 110 001.

2.The Chairman, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, Jawaharlal Nehru Marg, (Opp. to Ramleela Maidhan) New Delhi - 110 002.

3.The Secretary, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, Jawaharlal Nehru Marg, (Opp. to Ramleela Maidhan), New Delhi - 110 002.

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J. NISHA BANU,J.

and S.SRIMATHY.J ta 30.04.2025 5/5