Broadcast tribunal stays ban on Red FM channel

The Telecom Disputes Settlement And Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) today stayed a Information and Broadcasting Ministrys order banning the private radio channel Red FM for allegedly making derogatory remarks against Indian Idol winner Prashant Tamang.

New Delhi, Oct 4 : The Telecom Disputes Settlement And Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) today stayed a Information and Broadcasting Ministry's order banning the private radio channel Red FM for allegedly making derogatory remarks against Indian Idol winner Prashant Tamang.

Justice Arun Kumar said that in this case the Ministry has not followed its own rule of giving 15-day prior notice.

However, the TDSAT has made it clear that the Ministry can take fresh action against the FM channel within the law.

The tribunal has also asked the Information Ministry to file a reply over the notice issued by it within 10 days.

It would take up the matter on November 13.

On October1, the TDSAT had allowed the Ministry to go ahead with the proceedings against the channel, but had stayed implementation of the direction.

Yesterday, the Information Ministry had decided to impose a seven-day ban on the private channel.

On September 28, Nepalese dominated fans of Tamang clashed with locals following some comments made by the radio jockey, which led to widespread violence in Siliguri of West Bengal.

Army was called in and large numbers of paramilitary and police personnel were deployed in the city, where Section 144 was clamped.

Tamang, an ethnic Nepalese youth, who is working with the Kolkata Police, won the closely fought competition after beating Amit Paul from Meghalaya.

ANI