KAUSHIK CHAKRABORTY Vs. DIRECTOR GENERAL DOORDARSHAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Rule. With the consent of the parties the writ petition is taken up lor disposal as the pleadings are complete. Petitioner by this writ petition seeks the quashing of the sanction letter hearing No. 4/84/96-Ps/751 dated 15.10.1997, by which sanction was accorded for payment of royalty of Rs. 4 lacs for the telecasting rights of the petitioner's Manipuri feature film "LANGLEN THADOI." Petitioner also seeks a direction to the respondents to make the payment in accordance with the earlier sanction letter hearing No. 4/84/96-Ps/310 dated 15.4.1997 in the sum of Rs. 8 lacs.

(2.) The controversy in the present case is narrow one. Petitioner had applied to the Doordarshan for telecasting the feature film "LANGLEN THADOI" on the Doordarshan. Petitioner represented that the said film had won two Stale Awards. The application form appearing at page 26 of the paper book, mentions award of "Best Producer 1994" and "Best Art Director 1994". It appears that the respondents, based on the above representation, accepted the proposal for telecasting the film and accorded the sanction of Rs. 8. However, the respondents slate that when they came to know that petitioner's film was the recipient of only one Slate Award i.e. "Best Art Director" the royalty amount was reduced Rs. 4 lacs in terms of the sanction letters hearing No. 4/84/96-Ps/751 dated 15.10.1997 and 4/84/96-Ps/310 dated 15.4.1997.

(3.) Learned counsel for the petitioner urged before me that the action of the respondents is arbitrary and contrary to the opinion of State Government that the film had won two awards. He submits that the film was the recipient not only of the "Best Art Director" award, but also of a "Participation Award". The submission is that the "Participation Award" is duly recognised by the State Government as a State Award. Hence it has to be reckoned and accepted by the respondents for the purpose of making the payment of the entire royalty amount of Rs. 8 lacs. *