MUMBAI: Sun Group owned Kal Cables has finally won the battle it had set out for, after the Information and Broadcasting Ministry (I&B) cancelled the licence of the multi system operator (MSO).

Quashing the cancellation of provisional licence, Justice V Ramasubramanian said that the I&B had not issued any show-cause notice, before cancelling the permit. He also said that the MSO should be given another chance to respond, post which the I&B Ministry can take suitable action.

The Kalanidhi Maran owned Kal Cables had opposed the 20 August order, saying that it is just a MSO and not a channel. And if the I&B had issued a notice, it would have cleared the doubts.

The court has agreed that Kal Cables is not a broadcaster, but a distributor. And so any cancellation based on security reasons, is applicable on the broadcaster and not the MSO.

It was on 20 August, that the I&B ordered cancellation of the provisional licence, giving the MSO, 15 days to wind up its business. After this, Kal Cables approached the court to first put a stay on the order and finally quashing it and also directing the Centre to give a permanent registration to continue its operations.

The MSO was given a permanent licence to operate in Chennai in June 2012, while a provisional licence was given to operate in DAS notified areas in phase II cities in March 2013.