Madras High Court
Chennai Metro Cable T.V vs Government Of India on 2 January, 2026
Author: Anita Sumanth
Bench: Anita Sumanth
2026:MHC:39
WP No. 29651 of 2012 & batch
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 02-01-2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE DR.JUSTICE ANITA SUMANTH
AND
THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE P. DHANABAL
WP Nos. 29651, 30502 and 35380 of 2012
AND
WA Nos. 111 and 592 OF 2014
Chennai Metro Cable T.V.
Operators Association (Regd. 270/2011)
Rep. by its President,
# 33/8, Srinivasa Iyer Street, West Mambalam,
Chennai 600033.
..Petitioner(s)
Vs
1.Government of India,
Rep. by Secretary, Ministry of I & B, New Delhi.
2.Government of Tamil Nadu,
Rep. by its Chief Secretary,
Fort St. George,
Chennai 600009.
3.Nodal Officer,
Chennai CAS Area, Joint Secretary,
Home Department, Government of Tamil Nadu,
Chennai 600009.
4.Telecom Regulatory Authority of India,
Rep. by its Chairman,
Mahanagar Doorsanchar Bhawan,
(next to Zakir Hussain College)
Jawaharlal Nehru Marg (old Minto Road),
__________
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WP No. 29651 of 2012 & batch
New Delhi 110 002.
5.Tamilnadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation Ltd.
Rep. by its Managing Director,
11/22 Mangadusamy Street,
Nungambakkam, Chennai – 34.
6.M/s.KAL Cables Pvt.Ltd.,
Kutchery Road, Mylapore,
Chennai- 4.
7.M/s.JAK Communications Pvt. Ltd.,
J4, 6th Avenue, Anna Nagar,
Chennai 102.
8.Indian Broadcasting Foundation,
B-304, Third Floor, Ansal Paza,
Khelgaon Marg,
Andrewsganj, New Delhi-110 049.
9.Vizcom 18 Media Private Ltd.,
Zion Bizworld, Subhash Road-A, Vile Parle(E),
Mumbai-57.
10.Star India Pvt. Ltd.
Rep. by its Assistant Vice President,
Ravi Srivastava, Star Centre,
Plot No.77, Sec.32, Gurgaon,
Haryana 122 001, India.
(R8 to R10 are impleaded as per order of this Court
dated 05.11.2012 in M.P.Nos.2 to 4 of 2012 in
WP.No.29651 of 2012)
11.DTH Association,
Rep. by its Authorised Person Sanjeev Ahuja,
(Sr. Dy. Genl. Counsel At Tata Sky Ltd.) C-1,
Wadia International Centre, (Bombay Dyeing)
Pandurang Budhkar Marg, Mumbai-400 025.
12.M/s.Jothishankar Annamalai,
21/28, North Street, Venkatesapuram Colony,
Ayanavaram, Chennai-600 023.
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WP No. 29651 of 2012 & batch
13.M/s.Akshaya Diginet Cable Vision Pvt. Ltd.,
3, Malar Complex, 2nd Flr.,
Padi Pudhunagar Road,
Anna Nagar West Extn.,
Chennai-600 101.
14.M/s.Thamizhaga Cable TV
Communication Pvt., Ltd.,
Old No.150, New No.48, Sami Naicken St.,
Chinthadripet, Chennai-2.
15.Crystal Transmission Pvt. Ltd.
34, First Main Road,
New Colony,
Chrompet, Chennai-600 044.
16.M/s.V.K.Digital Network,
3-A, 29, Willow Crest, 6th Main Road,
R.A.Puram, Chennai-600 028.
17.Thalainagar Digital Cable Vision Pvt. Ltd.,
16, South Park St.,
Venkatapuram,
Ambattur, Chennai-600 063.
18.M/s.Adhar Digital,
37/19, Ayalur Muthiah Street,
Kondithope,
Chennai-600 079.
(R11 to R18 impleaded as per order of this Court
dated 09.11.12 in M.P.Nos.5 & 6 of 2012 in
W.P.No.29651 of 2012)
19.Tamil Nadu Cable TV Urimaiyalargal Sangam,
Rep. by its State President,
53, Narayanan Street, Pudupet, Chennai-2.
(R19 impleaded as per order of this Court dated
29.11.12 in M.P.No.11 of 2012 in W.P.No.29651 of
2012)
..Respondent(s)
__________
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WP No. 29651 of 2012 & batch
WP No. 30502 of 2012
Rama Rao,
S/o.Venkata Ramana Rao,
C-42, Ground Floor, 6th Street, Lakshmi Nagar,
Nanganallur, Chennai-61.
..Appellant(s)
Vs
1.Government of India,
Rep. by Secretary, Ministry of I & B,
New Delhi.
2.Government of Tamil Nadu,
Rep. by its Chief Secretary,
Fort St. George, Chennai-9.
3.Telecom Regulatory Authority of India,
Rep. by its Chairman, Mahanagar Doorsanchar
Bhawan, (Next To Zakir Hussain College),
Jawaharlal Nehru Marg (old Minto Road)
New Delhi-2.
4.Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation Ltd,
Rep. by its Managing Director,
11/22, Mangadusamy Street,
Nungambakkam, Chennai-34.
5.Priyasankari Satellite System
32, 4th Main Road, Nanganallur,
Chennai-61.
..Respondent(s)
WP No. 35380 of 2012
Balaji Raghunathan
S/o.A.Raghunathan,
No.17, Vaigai Nagar, Bharathi Nagar,
Adambakkam, Chennai-88.
__________
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WP No. 29651 of 2012 & batch
..Appellant(s)
Vs
1.Government of India,
Rep. by its Secretary,
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting,
New Delhi.
2.Government of Tamilnadu,
Rep. by its Chief Secretary,
Fort St. George, Chennai.
3.Tamilnadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation Ltd.,
Rep. by its Managing Director,
No.11/122, Mangadusamy Street,
Nungambakkam, Chennai-34.
..Respondent(s)
WA No. 111 of 2014
Mr. N. Vidya Sagar
S/o Mr. N. Manickam
No. 17, D.R.R. Street, Charles Nagar, Pattabiram,
Chennai 600 072.
..Appellant(s)
Vs
1.Tamilnadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation Ltd.,
Rep. by its General Manager,
11/22 Mangadu Samy Street,
Nungambakkam, Chennai 34.
2.The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting,
Rep. by its Secretary, Room No.655 5th Floor
A Wing, Shastri Bhawan,
Dr. Rajendra Prasad Road,
New Delhi 110 001.
3.The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India,
Rep. by its Secretary, Mahanagar Door Sanchar
Bhawan, (Next To Zakir Hussain College),
Jawaharlal Nehru Marg New Delhi.
__________
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WP No. 29651 of 2012 & batch
..Respondent(s)
WA No. 592 of 2014
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting,
Rep. by its Secretary, Room No.655 5th Floor,
A Wing, Shastri Bhawan,
Dr. Rajendra Prasad Road, New Delhi 110 001.
..Appellant(s)
Vs
1,Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation Ltd.,
Rep. by its General Manager,
11/22 Mangadu Samy Street,
Nungambakkam, Chennai 34.
2.The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India,
Rep. by its Secretary, Mahanagar Door Sanchar
Bhawan, (Next To Zakir Hussain College),
Jawaharlal Nehru Marg, New Delhi.
..Respondent(s)
Prayer in WP No. 29651 of 2012: Writ petition filed under Article 226 of the
Constitution of India for issuance of Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus calling
for the records of the 1st respondent in notification S.O.2534(E) dated
11.11.2011 and the consequential notification in S.O.1408(E) dated 21.06.2012
fixing deadline for implementation of digital addressable system (DAS) in
Chennai without corresponding necessary infrastructure and quash the same and
consequently forbear the 1st respondent in rolling out 100% Digital addressable
System (DAS) in Chennai till corresponding infrastructure by way of set top
boxes are made available by MSOS.
(prayer amended as per order of this Court dated 29.11.2012 made in M.P.No.1
of 2012 in W.P.No.29651 of 2012)
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WP No. 29651 of 2012 & batch
Prayer in WP No. 30502 of 2012: Writ petition filed under Article 226 of the
Constitution of India for issuance of Writ of Mandamus directing the
respondents to extent the deadline as regards implementation of DAS in
Chennai, till STB is made available to the petitioner.
Prayer in WP No. 35380 of 2012: Writ petition filed under Article 226 of the
Constitution of India for issuance of Writ of Mandamus restraining the 1st
respondent, or any authority, agency, broadcaster, multi-system operator, Local
Cable Operator, claiming through the 1st respondent from switching off the
analog mode transmission of programme through cable television, till the
supply of set top boxes by 3rd respondent.
Prayer in W.A.Nos.111 and 592 of 2014: Writ Appeals filed under Clause 15
of the Letters Patent to set aside the order dated 20.12.2013 made in M.P.No.1
of 2013 in W.P.No.34213 of 2013.
Case Nos. For Petitioners/ For Respondents
Appellants
W.P.No.29651 of 2012 Mr.J.Srinivasa Mohan Mr.B.Rabu Manohar
Senior Central Government
Standing Counsel (for R1)
Mr.P.Anandakumar
Government Advocate
(for R2 and R3)
Mr.David Sundar Singh
(for R5)
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WP No. 29651 of 2012 & batch
Ms.M.Sneha (for R6)
R4, R7 to R22 – No
Appearance
W.P.No.30502 of 2012 Mr.S.Jaganathan Mr.B.Rabu Manohar
Senior Central Government
Standing Counsel (for R1)
Mr.P.Anandakumar
Government Advocate
(for R2)
Mr.David Sundar Singh
(for R4)
R3 and R5 – No appearance
W.P.No.35380 of 2012 Mr.L.P.Balaji Ram Mr.P.Anandakumar
Government Advocate
(for R2)
Mr.B.Rabu Manohar
Senior Central Government
Standing Counsel (for R1)
Mr.David Sundar Singh
(for R3)
W.A.No.111 of 2013 Ms.R.Anitha Mr.Rajesh Vivekanandan
Deputy Solicitor General
(for R2)
Mr.David Sundar Singh
(for R1)
R3 – No appearance
W.A.No.592 of 2013 No Appearance Mr.Rajesh Vivekanandan
Deputy Solicitor General
(for R2)
Mr.David Sundar Singh
(for R1)
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WP No. 29651 of 2012 & batch
COMMON ORDER
(Order of the Court was made by Dr.Anita Sumanth J.) Learned counsel for the petitioners/appellants says that the petitioners/appellants do not wish to pursue these writ petitions and the writ appeals as the prayer does not survive any more.
2. Recording the same, the writ petitions and the writ appeals are closed.
No costs.
(A.S.M.,J.) (P.D.B.,J.) 02-01-2026 vs Index: Yes Speaking order Neutral Citation: Yes __________ Page 9 of 13 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 05/01/2026 07:39:56 pm ) WP No. 29651 of 2012 & batch DR.ANITA SUMANTH J.
AND P.DHANABAL J.
vs WP Nos. 29651, 30502 and 35380 of 2012 AND WA Nos. 111 and 592 OF 2014 02-01-2026 __________ Page 10 of 13 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 05/01/2026 07:39:56 pm ) WP No. 29651 of 2012 & batch To
1.The Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, New Delhi.
2.The Chief Secretary, Fort St. George, Chennai 600009.
3.The Nodal Officer, Chennai CAS Area, Joint Secretary, Home Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, Chennai 600009.
4.The Chairman, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, Mahanagar Doorsanchar Bhawan, (Next to Zakir Hussain College) Jawaharlal Nehru Marg (old Minto Road), New Delhi 110 002.
5.The Managing Director, Tamilnadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation Ltd. 11/22 Mangadusamy Street, Nungambakkam, Chennai – 34.
6.M/s.KAL Cables Pvt.Ltd., Kutchery Road, Mylapore, Chennai- 4.
7.M/s.JAK Communications Pvt. Ltd., J4, 6th Avenue, Anna Nagar, Chennai 102.
8.Indian Broadcasting Foundation, B-304, Third Floor, Ansal Paza, Khelgaon Marg, Andrewsganj, New Delhi-110 049.
9.Vizcom 18 Media Private Ltd., Zion Bizworld, Subhash Road-A, Vile Parle(E), __________ Page 11 of 13 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 05/01/2026 07:39:56 pm ) WP No. 29651 of 2012 & batch Mumbai-57.
10.The Assistant Vice President, Star India Pvt. Ltd.
Ravi Srivastava, Star Centre, Plot No.77, Sec.32, Gurgaon, Haryana 122 001, India.
11.The Authorised Person Sanjeev Ahuja, (Sr. Dy. Genl. Counsel At Tata Sky Ltd.) C-1, DTH Association, Wadia International Centre, (Bombay Dyeing) Pandurang Budhkar Marg, Mumbai-400 025.
12.M/s.Jothishankar Annamalai, 21/28, North Street, Venkatesapuram Colony, Ayanavaram, Chennai-600 023.
13.M/s.Akshaya Diginet Cable Vision Pvt. Ltd., 3, Malar Complex, 2nd Flr., Padi Pudhunagar Road, Anna Nagar West Extn., Chennai-600 101.
14.M/s.Thamizhaga Cable TV Communication Pvt., Ltd., Old No.150, New No.48, Sami Naicken St., Chinthadripet, Chennai-2.
15.Crystal Transmission Pvt. Ltd. 34, First Main Road, New Colony, Chrompet, Chennai-600 044.
16.M/s.V.K.Digital Network, 3-A, 29, Willow Crest, 6th Main Road, R.A.Puram, Chennai-600 028.
17.Thalainagar Digital Cable Vision Pvt. Ltd., 16, South Park St., Venkatapuram, Ambattur, Chennai-600 063.
18.M/s.Adhar Digital, 37/19, Ayalur Muthiah Street, Kondithope, __________ Page 12 of 13 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 05/01/2026 07:39:56 pm ) WP No. 29651 of 2012 & batch Chennai-600 079.
19.The State President, Tamil Nadu Cable TV Urimaiyalargal Sangam, 53, Narayanan Street, Pudupet, Chennai-2.
20. Priyasankari Satellite System 32, 4th Main Road, Nanganallur, Chennai-61.
21.The Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Room No.655 5th Floor A Wing, Shastri Bhawan, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Road, New Delhi 110 001.
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