(1) This Act may be called the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995.
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,--
No person shall operate a cable television network unless he is registered as a cable operator under this Act.
1 [4. Registration as cable operator.--(1) Any person who is desirous of operating or is operating a cable television network may apply for registration or renewal of registration, as a cable operator to the registering authority.
1 [4A. Transmission of programmes through digital addressable systems, etc.-- (1) Where the Central Government is satisfied that it is necessary in the public interest so to do, it may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make it obligatory for every cable operator to transmit or re-transmit programmes of any channel in an encrypted form through a digital addressable system with effect from such date as may be specified in the notification and different dates may be specified for different States, cities, towns or areas, as the case may be:
1[4B. Right of way for cable operators and permission by public authority.--(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, any cable operator entitled for providing cable services may, from time to time, lay and establish cables and erect posts under, over, along, across, in or upon any immovable property vested in or under the control or management of a public authority.
No person shall transmit or re-transmit through a cable service any programme unless such programme is in conformity with the prescribed programme code.
No person shall transmit or re-transmit through a cable service any advertisement unless such advertisement is in conformity with the prescribed advertisement code.
Every cable operator shall maintain a register in the prescribed form indicating therein in brief the programmes transmitted or re-transmitted through the cable service during a month and such register shall be maintained by the cable operator for a period of one year after the actual transmission or re-transmission of the said programmes.
1 [8. Compulsory transmission of certain channels. (1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify the names of Doordarshan channels or the channels operated by or on behalf of Parliament, to be mandatorily carried by the cable operators in their cable service and the manner of reception and re-transmission of such channels:
| Year | Description | Hindi Description | Files(Eng) | Files(Hindi) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07-05-2019 | Notification of DD Arunprabha channel as a mandatory DD channel |
No cable operator shall, on and from the date of the expiry of a period of three years from the date of the establishment and publication of the Indian Standard by the Bureau of Indian Standards in accordance with the provisions of the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986 (63 of 1986), use any 1 [equipment or digital addressable system] in his cable television network unless such 1 [equipment or digital addressable system] conforms to the said Indian Standard.
Every cable operator shall ensure that the cable television network being operated by him does not interfere, in any way, with the functioning of the authorised telecommunication systems 1 [and is in conformity with such standards relating to interference as may be prescribed by the Central Government].
4 [10A. Inspection of cable network and services.--(1) Without prejudice to the provisions contained in the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 (13 of 1885) or any other law for the time being in force, the Central Government or its officers authorised by it or authorised agency shall have the right to inspect the cable network and services.
1 [11. Power to seize equipment used for operating cable television network.--If any authorised officer has reason to believe that the provisions of section 3, section 4A, section 5,section 6, section 8, section 9 or section 10 have been or are being contravened by any cable operator, he may seize the equipment being used by such cable operator for operating the cable television network:
The equipment seized under sub-section (1) of section 11 shall be liable to confiscation unless the cable operator from whom the equipment has been seized registers himself as a cable operator under section 4 within a period of thirty days from the date of seizure of the said equipment.
No seizure or confiscation of equipment referred to in section 11 or section 12 shall prevent the infliction of any punishment to which the person affected thereby is liable under the provisions of this Act.
(1) No order adjudicating confiscation of the equipment referred to in section 12 shall be made unless the cable operator has been given a notice in writing informing him of the grounds on which it is proposed to confiscate such equipment and giving him a reasonable opportunity of making a representation in writing, within such reasonable time as may be specified in the notice against the confiscation and if he so desires of being heard in the matter:
(1) Any person aggrieved by any decision of the court adjudicating a confiscation of the equipment may prefer an appeal to the court to which an appeal lies from the decision of such court.
(1) Whoever contravenes any of the provisions of this Act shall be liable,--
(1) Where an offence under this Act has been committed by a company, every person who, at the time the offence was committed, was in charge of, and was responsible to, the company for the conduct of the business of the company, as well as the company, shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly:
No court shall take cognizance of any offence punishable under this Act except upon a complaint in writing made 1 [by anyauthorised officer].
Where 1 [any authorised officer], thinks it necessary or expedient so to do in the public interest, he may, by order, prohibit any cable operator from transmitting or re-transmitting 2 [any programme or channel if, it is not in conformity with the prescribed programme code referred to in section 5 and advertisement code referred to in section 6 or if it is]likely to promote, on grounds of religion, race, language, caste or community or any other ground whatsoever, disharmony or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will between different religious, racial, linguistic or regional groups or castes or communities or which is likely to disturb the public tranquillity.
1 [(1)] Where the Central Government thinks it necessary or expedient so to do in public interest, it may prohibit the operation of any cable television network in such areas as it may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf.
The provisions of this Act shall be in addition to, and not in derogation of, the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 (23 of 1940), the Pharmacy Act, 1948 (8 of 1948), the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950 (12 of 1950), the Drugs (Control) Act, 1950 (26 of 1950), the Cinematograph Act, 1952 (37 of 1952), the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 (21 of 1954), the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 (37 of 1954), the Prize Competitions Act, 1955 (42 of 1955), the Copyright Act, 1957 (14 of 1957), the Trade and Merchandise Marks, Act, 1958 (43 of 1958), the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986 (60 of 1986) 1 [, the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 (68 of 1986) and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997 (24 of 1997)].
(1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules to carry out the provisions of this Act.
| Year | Description | Hindi Description | Files(Eng) | Files(Hindi) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28-12-1995 | Cable Television Networks (Second Amendment) Rules, 1995 | |||
| 08-10-1996 | Cable Television Networks (Amendment) Rules, 1996 | |||
| 03-12-2007 | Cable Television Networks (Third Amendment) Rules, 2007 | |||
| 28-04-2012 | Cable Television Networks (Amendment) Rules, 2012 | |||
| 06-07-2012 | Cable Television Networks (Second Amendment) Rules,2012 | |||
| 19-08-2016 | Cable Television Networks (Amendment) Rules, 2016 |
| Year | Description | Hindi Description | Files(Eng) | Files(Hindi) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01-09-2000 | The Cable Television Networks(Regulation) Amendment Act, 2000 | |||
| 13-09-2000 | The Cable Television Networks(Regulation) Act,1995 | |||
| 01-01-2003 | The Cable Television Networks(Regulation) Amendment Act, 2002 | |||
| 29-05-2007 | The Cable Television Networks(Regulation) Amendment Act, 2007 | |||
| 31-12-2011 | The Cable Television Networks(Regulation) Amendment Act, 2011 |
(1) The Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Ordinance, 1995 (Ord. 3 of 1995) is hereby repealed.