TDSAT stays I&B ministry's order against FM channel

NEW DELHI: Private radio channel Red FM on Thursday got a breather from broadcast tribunal TDSAT which stayed Ministry of Information and Broadcasting's order to ban it after one of its presenters made an allegedly derogatory remark against the Gurkha community.

A TDSAT bench headed by Justice Arun Kumar observed that the ministry did not follow its own rule of giving 15-day prior notice in this case.

However, the bench also said if the ministry wants to take fresh action against the FM channel within the legal terms then it can go ahead.

TDSAT directed the ministry to file a reply over the notice issued by it within 10 days and posted the matter for November 13 for next hearing.
   
The tribunal had on October 1 allowed the ministry to go ahead with the proceedings against the channel, but had stayed implementation of its direction. Any ministerial order was, however, subject to the outcome of the case in the tribunal.
   
On Wednesday, the ministry decided to ban the private channel for seven days.