THE CABLE TELEVISION NETWORKS (REGULATION) ACT, 1995

(7 of 1995) *a
[Act as on Enactment Date]
[25th March 1995]
[a] Gazette of India etraordinar! "art II #ection I dated 25th March 1995$
An Act to re%&'ate the o(eration of ca)'e te'e*ision net+or,s in the co&ntr! and for matters
connected there+ith or incidenta' thereto$
-E it enacted )! "ar'iament in the .ort!/sith 0ear of the 1e(&)'ic of India as fo''o+s$/
THE CABLE TELEVISION NETWORKS (REGULATION) ACT, 1995
CHAPTER I: PRELIMINARY
1.Sho! !"!#$, $%!$&! '&( )o**$&)$*$&!.+
(1) 2his Act ma! )e ca''ed the 3a)'e 2e'e*ision 4et+or,s (1e%&'ation) Act5 1995$
(2) It etends to the +ho'e of India$
(6) It sha'' )e deemed to ha*e come into force on the 29th da! of #e(tem)er5 1997$

,.-$."&"!"o&/.+In this Act5 &n'ess the contet other+ise re8&ires5/
(a) 9ca)'e o(erator9 means an! (erson +ho (ro*ides ca)'e ser*ice thro&%h a ca)'e te'e*ision
net+or, or other+ise contro's or is res(onsi)'e for the mana%ement and o(eration of a ca)'e
te'e*ision net+or,:
()) 9ca)'e ser*ice9 means the transmission )! ca)'es of (ro%rammes inc'&din% re/transmission )!
ca)'es of an! )roadcast te'e*ision si%na's:
(c) 9ca)'e te'e*ision net+or,9 means an! s!stem consistin% of a set of c'osed transmission (aths
and associated si%na' %eneration5 contro' and distri)&tion e8&i(ment5 desi%ned to (ro*ide ca)'e
ser*ice for rece(tion )! m&'ti('e s&)scri)ers:
(d) 9com(an!9 means a com(an! as defined in section 6 of the 3om(anies Act5 195;: (1 of 195;)
(e) 9(erson9 means/
(i) an indi*id&a' +ho is a citizen of India:
(ii) an association of indi*id&a's or )od! of indi*id&a's5 +hether incor(orated or not5 +hose
mem)ers are citizens of India:
(iii) a com(an! in +hich not 'ess than fift!/one (er cent of the (aid/&( share ca(ita' is he'd )! the
citizens of India:
(f) 9(rescri)ed9 means (rescri)ed )! r&'es made &nder this Act:
(%) 9(ro%ramme9 means an! te'e*ision )roadcast and inc'&des/
(i) ehi)ition of fi'ms5 feat&res5 dramas5 ad*ertisements and seria's thro&%h *ideo cassette
recorders or *ideo cassette ('a!ers:
(ii) an! a&dio or *is&a' or a&dio/*is&a' 'i*e (erformance or (resentation5 and the e(ression
9(ro%rammin% ser*ice9 sha'' )e constr&ed accordin%'!:
(h) 9re%isterin% a&thorit!9 means s&ch a&thorit! as the 3entra' Go*ernment ma!5 )! notification in
the <fficia' Gazette5 s(ecif! to (erform the f&nctions of the re%isterin% a&thorit! &nder this Act:
(i) 9s&)scri)er9 means a (erson +ho recei*es the si%na's of ca)'e te'e*ision net+or, at a ('ace
indicated )! him to the ca)'e o(erator5 +itho&t f&rther transmittin% it to an! other (erson$

CHAPTER II + REGULATION O0 CABLE TELEVISION NETWORK
1.C'2#$ !$#$3"/"o& &$!4o5 &o! !o 2$ o6$'!$( $%)$6! '.!$ $7"/!'!"o&.+4o (erson sha''
o(erate a ca)'e te'e*ision net+or, &n'ess he is re%istered as a ca)'e o(erator &nder this Act=
"ro*ided that a (erson o(eratin% a ca)'e te'e*ision net+or,5 immediate'! )efore the
commencement of this Act5 ma! contin&e to do so for a (eriod of ninet! da!s from s&ch
commencement: and if he has made an a(('ication for re%istration as a ca)'e o(erator &nder
section 7 +ithin the said (eriod5 ti'' he is re%istered &nder that section or the re%isterin% a&thorit!
ref&ses to %rant re%istration to him &nder that section$

8.R$7"/!'!"o& '/ )'2#$ o6$'!o$/(1) An! (erson +ho is o(eratin% or is desiro&s of o(eratin% a
ca)'e te'e*ision net+or, ma! a(('! for re%istration as a ca)'e o(erator to the re%isterin% a&thorit!$
(2) An a(('ication &nder s&)/section (1) sha'' )e made in s&ch form and )e accom(anied )! s&ch
fee as ma! )e (rescri)ed$
(6) <n recei(t of the a(('ication5 the re%isterin% a&thorit! sha'' satisf! itse'f that the a(('icant has
f&rnished a'' the re8&ired information and on )ein% so satisfied5 re%ister the a(('icant as a ca)'e
o(erator and %rant to him a certificate of s&ch re%istration=
"ro*ided that the re%isterin% a&thorit! ma!5 for reasons to )e recorded in +ritin% and
comm&nicated to the a(('icant5 ref&se to %rant re%istration to him if it is satisfied that he does not
f&'fi' the conditions s(ecified in c'a&se (e) of section 2$

5.Po7'**$ )o($.+ 4o (erson sha'' transmit or re/transmit thro&%h a ca)'e ser*ice an!
(ro%ramme &n'ess s&ch (ro%ramme is in conformit! +ith the (rescri)ed (ro%ramme code=
"ro*ided that nothin% in this section sha'' a(('! to the (ro%rammes of forei%n sate''ite channe's
+hich can )e recei*ed +itho&t the &se of an! s(ecia'ised %ad%ets or decoder$

9.A(3$!"/$*$&! )o($.+4o (erson sha'' transmit or re/transmit thro&%h a ca)'e ser*ice an!
ad*ertisement &n'ess s&ch ad*ertisement is in conformit! +ith the (rescri)ed ad*ertisement
code=
"ro*ided that nothin% in this section sha'' a(('! to the (ro%rammes of forei%n sate''ite channe's
+hich can )e recei*ed +itho&t the &se of an! s(ecia'ised %ad%ets or decoder$

:.M'"&!$&'&)$ o. $7"/!$.+E*er! ca)'e o(erator sha'' maintain a re%ister in the (rescri)ed form
indicatin% therein in )rief the (ro%rammes transmitted or re/transmitted thro&%h the ca)'e ser*ice
d&rin% a month and s&ch re%ister sha'' )e maintained )! the ca)'e o(erator for a (eriod of one
!ear after the act&a' transmission or re/transmission of the said (ro%rammes$

;.Co*6<#/o= !'&/*"//"o& o. !4o -oo('/h'& )h'&&$#/.+
(1) E*er! ca)'e o(erator &sin% a dish antenna or 2e'e*ision 1ecei*e on'! sha''5 from the
commencement of this Act5 re/transmit at 'east t+o Doordarshan channe's of his choice thro&%h
the ca)'e ser*ice$
(2) 2he Doordarshan channe's referred to in s&)/section (1) sha'' )e re/transmitted +itho&t an!
de'etion or a'teration of an! (ro%ramme transmitted on s&ch channe'$

9.U/$ o. /!'&('( $><"6*$&! "& )'2#$ !$#$3"/"o& &$!4o5.+4o ca)'e o(erator sha''5 on and
from the date of the e(ir! of a (eriod of three !ears from the date of the esta)'ishment and
(&)'ication of the Indian #tandard )! the -&rea& of Indian #tandards in accordance +ith the
(ro*isions of the -&rea& of Indian #tandards Act5 19>;5 &se an! e8&i(ment in his ca)'e te'e*ision
net+or, &n'ess s&ch e8&i(ment conforms to the said Indian standard$

1?.C'2#$ !$#$3"/"o& &$!4o5 &o! !o "&!$.$$ 4"!h '&= !$#$)o**<&")'!"o& /=/!$*.+ E*er!
ca)'e o(erator sha'' ens&re that the ca)'e te'e*ision net+or, )ein% o(erated )! him does not
interfere5 in an! +a!5 +ith the f&nctionin% of the a&thorised te'ecomm&nication s!stems$

CHAPTER III + SEI@URE AN- CON0ISCATION O0 CERTAIN EAUIPMENT
11.Po4$ !o /$"B$ $><"6*$&! </$( .o o6$'!"&7 !h$ )'2#$ !$#$3"/"o& &$!4o5.+
(1) If an! officer5 not )e'o+ the ran, of a Gro&( ?A@ officer of the 3entra' Go*ernment a&thorised in
this )eha'f )! the Go*ernment (hereinafter referred to as the a&thorised officer)5 has reason to
)e'ie*e that the (ro*isions of section 6 ha*e )een or are )ein% contra*ened )! an! ca)'e
o(erator5 he ma! seize the e8&i(ment )ein% &sed )! s&ch ca)'e o(erator for o(eratin% the ca)'e
te'e*ision net+or,$
(2) 4o s&ch e8&i(ment sha'' )e retained )! the a&thorised officer for a (eriod eceedin% ten da!s
from the date of its seiz&re &n'ess the a((ro*a' of the District A&d%e5 +ithin the 'oca' 'imits of
+hose B&risdiction s&ch seiz&re has )een made5 has )een o)tained for s&ch retention$

1,.Co&."/)'!"o&.+ 2he e8&i(ment seized &nder s&)/section (1) of section 11 sha'' )e 'ia)'e to
confiscation &n'ess the ca)'e o(erator from +hom the e8&i(ment has )een seized re%isters
himse'f as a ca)'e o(erator &nder section 7 +ithin a (eriod of thirt! da!s from the date of seiz&re
of the said e8&i(ment$

11.S$"B<$ o )o&."/)'!"o& o. $><"6*$&! &o! !o "&!$.$$ 4"!h o!h$ 6<&"/h*$&!.+
4o seiz&re or confiscation of e8&i(ment referred to in section 11 or section 12 sha'' (re*ent the
inf'iction of an! (&nishment to +hich the (erson affected there)! is 'ia)'e &nder the (ro*isions of
this Act$

18.G"3"&7 o. o66o!<&"!= !o !h$ )'2#$ o6$'!o o. /$"B$( $><"6*$&!.+ (1) 4o order
adB&dicatin% confiscation of the e8&i(ment referred to in section 12 sha'' )e made &n'ess the
ca)'e o(erator has )een %i*en a notice in +ritin% informin% him of the %ro&nds on +hich it is
(ro(osed to confiscate s&ch e8&i(ment and %i*in% him a reasona)'e o((ort&nit! of ma,in% a
re(resentation in +ritin%5 +ithin s&ch reasona)'e time as ma! )e s(ecified in the notice a%ainst
the confiscation and if he so desires of )ein% heard in the matter=
"ro*ided that +here no s&ch notice is %i*en +ithin a (eriod of ten da!s from the date of the
seiz&re of the e8&i(ment5 s&ch e8&i(ment sha'' )e ret&rned after the e(ir! of that (eriod to the
ca)'e o(erator from +hose (ossession it +as seized$
(2) #a*e as other+ise (ro*ided in s&)/section (1)5 the (ro*isions of the 3ode of 3i*i' "roced&re5
19C> (5 of 19C>) sha''5 so far as ma! )e5 a(('! to e*er! (roceedin% referred to in s&)/section (1)$

15.A66$'#.+
(1) An! (erson a%%rie*ed )! an! decision of the co&rt adB&dicatin% a confiscation of the
e8&i(ment ma! (refer an a((ea' to the co&rt to +hich an a((ea' 'ies from the decision of s&ch
co&rt$
(2) 2he a((e''ate co&rt ma!5 after %i*in% the a((e''ant an o((ort&nit! of )ein% heard5 (ass s&ch
order as it thin,s fit confirmin%5 modif!in% or re*isin% the decision a((ea'ed a%ainst or ma! send
)ac, the case +ith s&ch directions as it ma! thin, fit for a fresh decision or adB&dication5 as the
case ma! )e5 after ta,in% additiona' e*idence if necessar!$
(6) 4o f&rther a((ea' sha'' 'ie a%ainst the order of the co&rt made &nder s&)/section (2)$

CHAPTER IV + O00ENCES AN- PENALTIES
19.P<&"/h*$&! .o )o&!'3$&!"o& o. 6o3"/"o&/ o. !h"/ A)!$/
Dhoe*er contra*enes an! of the (ro*isions of this Act sha'' )e (&nisha)'e5/
(a) for the first offence5 +ith im(risonment for a term +hich ma! etend to t+o !ears or +ith fine
+hich ma! etend to one tho&sand r&(ees or +ith )oth:
()) for e*er! s&)se8&ent offence5 +ith im(risonment for a term +hich ma! etend to fi*e !ears
and +ith fine +hich ma! etend to fi*e tho&sand r&(ees$

1:.O..$&)$/ 2= )o*6'&"$/.+
(1) Dhere an offence &nder this Act has )een committed )! a com(an!5 e*er! (erson +ho5 at the
time the offence +as committed5 +as in char%e of5 and +as res(onsi)'e to5 the com(an! for the
cond&ct of the )&siness of the com(an!5 as +e'' as the com(an!5 sha'' )e deemed to )e %&i't! of
the offence and sha'' )e 'ia)'e to )e (roceeded a%ainst and (&nished accordin%'!=
"ro*ided that nothin% contained in this s&)/section sha'' render an! s&ch (erson 'ia)'e to an!
(&nishment5 if he (ro*es that the offence +as committed +itho&t his ,no+'ed%e or that he had
eercised a'' d&e di'i%ence to (re*ent the commission of s&ch offence$
(2) 4ot+ithstandin% an!thin% contained in s&)/section (1)5 +here an! offence &nder this Act has
)een committed )! a com(an! and it is (ro*ed that the offence has )een committed +ith the
consent or conni*ance of5 or is attri)&ta)'e to an! ne%'i%ence on the (art of5 an! director5
mana%er5 secretar! or other officer of the com(an!5 s&ch director5 mana%er5 secretar! or other
officer sha'' a'so )e deemed to )e %&i't! of that offence and sha'' )e 'ia)'e to )e (roceeded
a%ainst and (&nished accordin%'!$
E('anation$/ .or the (&r(oses of this section5/
(a) 93om(an!9 means an! )od! cor(orate and inc'&des a firm or other association of indi*id&a's:
and
()) 9director9 in re'ation to a firm means a (artner in the firm$

1;.Co7&"B'&)$ o. o..$&)$/.+
4o co&rt sha'' ta,e co%nizance of an! offence (&nisha)'e &nder this Act ece(t &(on a com('aint
in +ritin% made )! s&ch officer5 not )e'o+ the ran, of a Gro&( ?A@ officer of the 3entra'
Go*ernment5 as the #tate Go*ernment ma!5 )! notification in the <fficia' Gazette5 s(ecif! in this
)eha'f$


CHAPTER V + MISCELLANEOUS
19.Po4$ !o 6oh"2"! !'&/*"//"o& o. )$!'"& 6o7'**$/ "& 6<2#") "&!$$/!.+
Dhere an officer5 not )e'o+ the ran, of a Gro&( ?A@ officer of the 3entra' Go*ernment a&thorised
)! the #tate Go*ernment in this )eha'f5 thin,s it necessar! or e(edient so to do in the (&)'ic
interest5 he ma!5 )! order5 (rohi)it an! ca)'e o(erator from transmittin% or re/transmittin% an!
(artic&'ar (ro%ramme if it is 'i,e'! to (romote5 on %ro&nds of re'i%ion5 race5 'an%&a%e5 caste or
comm&nit! or an! other %ro&nd +hatsoe*er5 disharmon! or fee'in%s of enmit!5 hatred or i''/+i''
)et+een different re'i%io&s5 racia'5 'in%&istic or re%iona' %ro&(s or castes or comm&nities or +hich
is 'i,e'! to dist&r) the (&)'ic tran8&i''it!$

,?.Po4$ !o 6oh"2"! o6$'!"o& o. )'2#$ !$#$3"/"o& &$!4o5 "& 6<2#") "&!$$/!.+
Dhere the 3entra' Go*ernment thin,s it necessar! or e(edient so to do in (&)'ic interest5 it ma!
(rohi)it the o(eration of an! ca)'e te'e*ision net+or, in s&ch areas as it ma!5 )! notification in the
<fficia' Gazette5 s(ecif! in this )eha'f$

,1.A66#")'!"o& o. o!h$ #'4/ &o! 2'$(.+ 2he (ro*isions of this Act sha'' )e in addition to5 and
not in dero%ation of5 the Dr&%s and 3osmetics Act5 197C5 (26 of 197C$) the "harmac! Act5 197>5
(> of 197>$) the Em)'ems and 4ames ("re*ention of Im(ro(er Ese) Act5 195C5(12 of 195C$) the
Dr&%s (3ontro') Act5 195C5(12 of 195C$) the 3inemato%ra(h Act5 19525(67 of 1952$) the Dr&%s and
Ma%ic 1emedies (<)Bectiona)'e Ad*ertisements) Act5 19575(21 of 1957$) the "re*ention of .ood
Ad&'teration Act5 19575(67 of 1957$) the "rize 3om(etitions Act5 19555(72 of 1955$) the 3o(!ri%ht
Act5 19575(17 of 1957$) the 2rade and Merchandise Mar,s Act5 195>5(76 of 195>$) the Indecent
1e(resentation of Domen ("rohi)ition) Act5 19>;(;C of 19>;$) and the 3ons&mer "rotection Act5
19>;$(;> of 19>;$)

,,.Po4$ !o *'5$ <#$/.+
(1) 2he 3entra' Go*ernment ma!5 )! notification in the <fficia' Gazette5 ma,e r&'es to carr! o&t
the (ro*isions of this Act$
(2) In (artic&'ar5 and +itho&t (reB&dice to the %enera'it! of the fore%oin% (o+er5 s&ch r&'es ma!
(ro*ide for a'' or an! of the fo''o+in% matters5 name'!$/
(a) the form of a(('ication and the fee (a!a)'e &nder s&)/section (2) of section 7:
()) the (ro%ramme code &nder section 5:
(c) the ad*ertisement code &nder section ;:
(d) the form of re%ister to )e maintained )! a ca)'e o(erator &nder section 7:
(e) an! other matter +hich is re8&ired to )e5 or ma! )e5 (rescri)ed$
(6) E*er! r&'e made &nder this Act sha'' )e 'aid5 as soon as ma! )e after it is made5 )efore each
Fo&se of "ar'iament5 +hi'e it is in session5 for a tota' (eriod of thirt! da!s +hich ma! )e
com(rised in one session or in t+o or more s&ccessi*e sessions5 and if5 )efore the e(ir! of the
session immediate'! fo''o+in% the session or the s&ccessi*e sessions aforesaid5 )oth Fo&ses
a%ree in ma,in% an! modification in the r&'e or )oth Fo&ses a%ree that the r&'e sho&'d not )e
made5 the r&'e sha'' thereafter ha*e effect on'! in s&ch modified form or )e of no effect5 as the
case ma! )e: so5 ho+e*er5 that an! s&ch modification or ann&'ment sha'' )e +itho&t (reB&dice to
the *a'idit! of an!thin% (re*io&s'! done &nder that r&'e$

,1.R$6$'# '&( /'3"&7/.+
(1) 2he 3a)'e 2e'e*ision 4et+or,s (1e%&'ation) <rdinance5 1995 is here)! re(ea'ed$
(2) 4ot+ithstandin% s&ch re(ea'5 an!thin% done or an! action ta,en &nder the said <rdinance5
sha'' )e deemed to ha*e )een done or ta,en &nder the corres(ondin% (ro*ision of this Act$