HC directs Centre to release Tata Sky STBs seized for not displaying MRP

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court directed the Centre on Monday to release all the Tata Sky set-top boxes (STBs), barring five pieces, which were seized by the government for not displaying the maximum retail price (MRP).

A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice A J Bhambani, in an interim order, directed the Ministry of Consumer Affairs to release the over six lakh STBs it had seized in January but allowed it to keep five of those for continuing with its probe.

Issuing the direction, the bench said the government’s decision was “prima facie arbitrary” and resulted not only in a financial loss to the direct broadcast satellite television provider, but also affected consumers who could not shift to the new STBs.