Panaji
In a major setback for television cable and internet service providers, the High Court of Bombay at Goa on Wednesday dismissed an application filed by the Goa Cable TV Networking and Service Providers Association seeking relief from the cutting of illegally installed overhead wires.
This decision allows the Electricity Department to continue its drive to remove unauthorised cables hanging on its poles. The HC, however, granted operators the liberty to apply for permission under the new rules, effective from January 1, 2025.
“Under the new rules, operators need permission to use the Electricity Department’s poles to extend their services. However, they have neither applied for nor obtained such permission,” Advocate General Devidas Pangam said. The court adjourned the matter for further hearing after two weeks.
In its writ petition, the Association requested the court to issue an interim injunction restraining the Electricity Department and its Executive Engineer from cutting or disconnecting cables that provide essential connectivity to subscribers until the final disposal of the case. They assured compliance with a request for a concession on arrears.
The All Goa Internet Service Providers, on the other hand, assured compliance with the government’s directives by 31 January. The Electricity Department has estimated a loss of about Rs 50 crore due to non-compliance with fee payments by the operators in the last 2“3 years.
