GOPI CHAND TELEVISION Vs. DIRECTOR DOORDARSHAN KENDRA HYDERABAD

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This writ petition is filed for a direction to the first respondent/Doordarshan Kendra, Hyderabad, to approve and allow the petitioner to produce the Novel "Cheekati Gadulu" in 26 episodes and allot time for telecasting the same, by giving first preference, as his application was the first application, so as to commence it from 8-9-1995 (which happens to be the birthday of the author' of the novel) without any resort to draw by lottery for allotting time slots.

(2.) To appreciate the case of the petitioner, it is necessary to note a few facts of the case: It is not in dispute that in the month of July, 1991, the first respondent issued a notification inviting proposals from outside Television and Film Producers and qualified professional for consideration for telecasting the tele-films by the first respondent/Doordarshan Kendra, Hyderabad, under the scheme described as "New Sponsorship Scheme". Such proposals invited pertain to 11 programme categories:-- (a) Family Serials (b) Comedy Serials (c) Serials based on Classics/Novels (d) Short stories (e) Detective Serials (f) Socially-relevant/Environment Serials (g) Science Fiction (h) Historical/Cultural (i) Quiz Programmes (j) Children's interest (Cartoons/Children's Serials/Animation). (k) Documentaries. The said notification inviting proposals state as under:--

(3.) It is not in dispute that the petitioner sent his proposals. Respondents Nos. 3 to 6, who were impleaded as per the orders dated 22-3-1995 in W.P. M.P. No. 2523/95 of this 'Court, also sent their proposals. The first respondent, out of 1,874 proposals received, 194 sponsored serials were selected provisionally. Thereafter, by letter dated 8-9-1994, the first/' respondent informed the petitioner stating that his proposal for T.V. Serial 'Cheekati Gadulu' has been provisionally selected for 13 episodes under the new sponsorship scheme and each episode shall be of the duration of not more than 22 minutes 30 seconds with free commercial time slot of two minutes and two free credit lines of ten seconds each. The said letter further stated as under:--