29th Dec 2020 07:00
December 25, 2020
London Stock Exchange plc.
10 Paternoster Square
London
EC4M 7LS
Subject: Intimation in respect of communication received by the Company with regard to License Fee
Dear Sir/Madam,
This is with reference to the License Fee payable by the Company to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting under the terms of the Direct to Home ('DTH') License of the Company.
In this regard, we would like to inform that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting vide its communication dated December 24, 2020, has intimated the Company that basis the accounts of the Company and payment made by the Company towards license fee from the period from the date of issuance of DTH License till Financial Year 2018-19, an amount of Rs. 4,164.05 Crores is payable by the Company and has directed the Company to remit the said within a period of 15 days. According the communication dated December 24, 2020, the said amount includes the License Fee payable and accrued interest thereon.
However, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has in its said letter, also mentioned that the amount is further subject to verification and audit and the outcome of various court cases pending before the Hon'ble TDSAT, the Hon'ble High Court of Jammu and Kashmir at Jammu and the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India, in the matter of DTH License fee.
In this regard, we would like to inform that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had issued a demand notice in the year 2014 for the License Fee pertaining from the date of issuance of DTH License till Financial Year 12 - 13. The said Demand Notice was challenged by the Company before the Hon'ble Telecom Dispute Settlement Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) and the said Demand has been stayed by the Hon'ble TDSAT, which stay continues to be in force.
Further, a petition of the Company is also pending before the Hon'ble High Court of Jammu and Kashmir where inter alia the quantum / applicability of License Fee and imposition of interest has been challenged by the Company. The Hon'ble High Court of Jammu and Kashmir had also allowed the interim prayer of the Company vide order dated October 13, 2015 which order continues to be in force as the Writ is pending. Similar Writs are also pending before the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India.
In view of the Orders of the Hon'ble High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Hon'ble High Court of Kerala, Order of the Hon'ble TDSAT and pendency of Writs before the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India, the Company does not concur with the demand dated December 24, 2020 raised by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Further, the Company is studying the communication dated December 24, 2020 of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to determine next steps. The DTH License fee matter has already been through several rounds of litigation, the final outcomes of which are yet to be argued and concluded. We shall update the Stock Exchange in the event of any material developments that take place in relation to the above.
This is for your information and records.
Yours truly,
For Dish TV India Limited
Ranjit Singh
Company Secretary & Compliance Officer
Membership No. A - 15442
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