ZEE TELEFILMS LIMITED Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The present petition has been filed by Zee Telefilms Ltd. for issuance of a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate writ, order or direction for quashing the action and decision of the respondents in declining the live telecast of the Lux Zee Cine Award 1999 on 14/3/1999 from 8.30 P.M. onwards till the conclusion of the said event and consequently to allot the said time slots to the petitioners. The petitioners further contend that they will abide by the terms and conditions of the rate card etc. issued by the respondents for that purpose.

(2.) The learned counsel for the petitioners has contended that the respondents have illegally and arbitrarily not granted permission to telecast the above-said event on DD-I Channel which is violative of Articles 14, 19(1)(a), 19(1)(g) and 21 of the Constitution of India. It is further submitted that the act of the respondents in declining to provide slots to the petitioners while having already telecast Filmfare Manikchand Award, Screen Videocon Awards and Femina Colgate Miss World Award is discriminatory, arbitrary and violative of Articles 14 and 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India. The details of the business activities of the petitioners are referred to in paragraph 3.1 of the writ writ petition which reads as follows:

(3.) The respondents have filed their counter affidavit wherein the following pleas have been raised to refute the claim of the petitioners: