Plea for CTV in MLA quarters rejected

A writ plea from a cable TV operator to direct the Legislative Assembly secretary to grant licence to run his network in the MLA quarters was turned down by the Madras High Court.

Holding that the petitioner has not made out any case for entertaining the petition in the absence of any legal or enforceable right, Justice K Chandru dismissed the petition filed by P Senthilnathan last week.

The petitioner was having cable TV network - Moon Star Cable. He was given  permission in 2001 by the deputy speaker to provide the connection to the MLA quarters. Thereafter, the permission was extended continuously on a year to year basis. While so, by an order dated June 4, 2012, the permission granted was cancelled.

The petitioner submitted that though he might not have any right to get an extension, but in future, if the authorities wanted to grant any cable TV network connection to the MLA quarters, they should call for tenders.

The judge said on as many as 10 occasions, the petitioner never got the extension by any tender for getting the Cable TV network connection. Hence, it was not open to him to state that in future, they should call for tender.