The Delhi High Court has reaffirmed a long-standing restriction on the monetisation of public resources, a decision that follows months of deliberation. This ruling, which dates back to its introduction in 2006, emphasizes that there is no constitutional guarantee for profitability or unrestricted monetisation of public assets.
Delhi High Court Upholds TRAI’s Advertising Cap
In May, the Delhi High Court rejected petitions from various general entertainment channels, news broadcasters, and regional channels that challenged the legal validity of a new advertising cap. The court ruled that the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) acted within its authority by setting a limit of “10+2 minutes per clock hour” for advertisements.
The justices, Anil Kshetarpal and Amit Mahajan, stated that this framework appropriately balances the rights of broadcasters with public interest. They emphasized that there is no constitutional guarantee for broadcasters to achieve unlimited profitability from public resources. The court dismissed claims that the advertising cap would harm revenue and infringe on commercial speech rights, reinforcing the legality of TRAI’s regulation.
