Shakthi challenges shut down order

By S.S.Selvanayagam

A free-to-air private television network “MTV Channel (Pvt) Ltd” today filed a writ application in the Court of Appeal challenging an impugned order to shut down the transmission station of Shakthi TV in the Jaffna peninsula.


Petitioner Company in its petition filed by Sudath Perera Associates has challenged the impugned order of the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission.
It cited Minister of Mass Media & Information Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Ministry Secretary, the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (TRC), the Independent Television Network (ITN), the Attorney General and others as Respondents.


It complained that on January 1, it was informed by the officers manning the Jaffna station, that the signal of Shakthi TV on Channel 25 was being interrupted by another signal being transmitted on the same Channel.


Upon inquiry, the petitioner learnt that the ITN was illegally broadcasting the test transmission “Vasantham” on the frequency (Channel 25) which was allocated/assigned to the petitioner company.
Petitioner Company states that with the end of war and in line with the governmental policy of encouraging development of the Northern Province, interest was sparked off amongst both the government and private sectors in respect of immense potential of the population of the Northern Province, which was an untouched market upto them (except the Petitioner Company)


It claims that it was in this atmosphere that the State run TV Channel namely Rupavahini Corporation officially launched the transmission of its Tamil language TV channel, Channel Eye.


It alleged that on January 5, the TRC purportedly acting in violation of and contrary to, the established principles of natural justice and the rule of law, purported to direct the petitioner company to shut down the said transmission with immediate effect.