Agartala, Feb 6: In a proactive move, Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha took the lead role in resolving the disruption of cable television channels in the state. The interruption occurred on Monday due to a failure to obtain registration under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs under the Indian Companies Act 2013.

Dr. Saha’s intervention proved instrumental, prompting Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Singh Thakur to ensure that local channel transmissions on cable networks would not be disrupted. This decision took into consideration the inadequate broadcast infrastructure in the state.

Tripura currently lacks satellite television channels, relying on more than 30 small and micro channels operating through multi-system operators (MSOs) on cable networks.

In November 2022, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had advised all MSOs nationwide to register all Platform Service channels within a year, a directive that went unheeded. Subsequently, an order last week mandated MSOs to cease the transmission of all non-registered channels from Monday, sparking nationwide concern, particularly in states like Tripura, where cable networks serve as the backbone of television service.

The Assembly of Journalists (AoJ), the apex media body in Tripura, took up the matter with Chief Minister Dr. Saha, seeking his intervention to resolve the situation.

Dr. Saha engaged with Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Singh Thakur, who, following a meeting with a media delegation from Tripura, assured them that the matter would be looked into with the best interests of the media community in mind. He emphasized that the objective was to bring local channels into a legal framework to prevent fake news, scandalous and malicious content, and unethical journalism.

The delegation, during their discussion with Minister Thakur, requested an extension of at least six months for registering Platform Service Channels operating through MSOs. They also sought permission to continue cable channel transmissions until they could complete the registration process.

Acknowledging the challenges faced by the media industry in Tripura, the delegation urged Minister Thakur to support the initiation of satellite TV channels in the state. They highlighted the impossibility of operating such channels due to infrastructure unavailability and poor capital formation in the media industry.

While cable channels may not have the financial capacity to build extensive infrastructure, they play a crucial role as important stakeholders in governance, a fact the delegation emphasized and urged to be recognized. Minister Thakur reassured them that a comprehensive solution would be sought soon.

In a significant turn of events, parents are gearing up to file a legal case against the President of Tripura Board of Secondary Education (TBSE), Dhananjay Ganachoudhury, and Exam Center Supervisors if the president fails to withdraw a controversial verbal announcement. The announcement, disclosed during a recent meeting with exam center supervisors, has sparked concerns and opposition from various quarters.

Opposition leader Animesh Debbarma addressed the media during a press conference on Friday, revealing the contentious details of the meeting convened by TBSE president Ganachoudhury. In the meeting, attended by prospective center supervisors for upcoming secondary and higher secondary examinations, the TBSE chairman reportedly instructed that students sitting for the exams should refrain from writing their answers in Roman script. Furthermore, he directed the center supervisors to enforce this instruction during the examinations.

Debbarma went on to express his concern over the president’s threat to file cases against exam center supervisors if students were found writing in Roman script. Such directives, according to the opposition leader, have raised significant worries. Historically, some students in the state have opted to write exams in Bengali, while others have utilized Roman script. Despite this, the TBSE president insisted on the new restriction, citing a lack of infrastructure to evaluate answer sheets written in Roman script.

The opposition leader highlighted the inconsistency in the president’s stance, noting that a few years ago, the state’s teachers successfully evaluated answer sheets in Roman script. Debbarma also criticized the president for allegedly undermining the Chief Minister’s statement in the assembly, where the Chief Minister asserted that there was no script policy in the state.

Calling for government intervention, Debbarma urged authorities to take action against the TBSE president. He threatened legal consequences, stating that if students were not allowed to write exams in Roman script, parents would file a case against the Board President, center supervisors, and head teachers.

The controversy surrounding script preferences in exams has ignited a tense situation, prompting concerns among parents and opposition leaders who are now taking a firm stand against the perceived restrictions imposed by the TBSE.

Agartala, Feb 03: In a significant development, the longstanding land dispute between the Union of India and the State of Tripura over the Assam Rifles Ground reached a resolution today, as informed by the Apex Court on February 2. The Division Bench comprising Justices Hrishikesh Roy and Prashant Kumar Mishra disposed of the matter after being apprised of a settlement between the parties involved.

Case Title: UNION OF INDIA vs. STATE OF TRIPURA., Diary No.- 11922 – 2015

The disputed land, currently in possession of the Assam Rifles under the Ministry of Defence, Union of India, witnessed a discrepancy in Revenue Entries. Despite the land belonging to Assam Rifles, Tripura’s Revenue Department had recorded it as “Tripura Sarkar.” This prompted the Union to file an original suit under Article 131 of the Indian Constitution in the Supreme Court, seeking, among other reliefs, a permanent injunction against the State of Tripura from claiming title to the land.

The Union contended that the land, originally designated for ‘Tripura Rifles,’ was transferred to ‘Assam Rifles’ in 1951 through a Presidential Order. The State, however, argued that it had the statutory authority to correct Revenue entries and challenged the maintainability of the suit under Article 131.

Despite the legal tussle, both parties have now reached a settlement. According to the agreed terms, the Government of Tripura will be permitted to conduct Ceremonial Functions, including Republic Day Parade and Independence Day Celebrations, on the disputed ground. However, the State government must make a formal request for such events. Additionally, the necessary correction in the Revenue records, rectifying the entries in favor of Assam Rifles, is mandated to be completed within three months.

With this amicable resolution, the Supreme Court has disposed of the suit, bringing an end to the protracted land dispute between the Union of India and the State of Tripura. -(livelaw)

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Borok Post staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)