Cable TV cos to be brought under MRTP Act

PUNE: The Pune District Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum has directed the Union of Cable Operators and Control Room Owners, Maharashtra, to issue government-authenticated receipts for entertainment tax collected from subscribers.
They have been restrained from collecting entertainment tax from their subscribers if they fail to do this.
The consumer forum has also directed control room owners to register their contracts with broadcasters under the Monoploies and Restrictive Trade Practices (MRTP) Act.
The consumer forum issued these directives following a complaint filed by the Grahak Hitvardhini (a consumer organisation) against the cable operators.
The consumer forum has stated that the broadcasters and control room owners are in violation of sections 33, 35 and 48 of the MRTP Act, 1969. These sections refer to unfair trade practices leading to the creation of monopolies. Cable operators have between them divided areas in the city, creating monopolies.
In a statement issued here, SV Velankar, president, Grahak Hitvardhini, said the order will help prevent pilferage of entertainment tax revenues since the consumer forum order makes it mandatory for cable operators to issue authentic receipts to subscribers. It also makes it compulsory for cable operators to be registered under the Entertainment Duty Act, 1923, and for government to issue authenticated receipts to each licensed cable operator.
The forum’s directive also effectively brings the cable industry, including operators and broadcasters, within the framework of the MRTP Act.