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Such distinction necessitated the regulatory intervention in the interest of viewers, it said. TRAI said the regulations were introduced pursuant to widespread consumer complaints, to ensure compliance with license conditions and maintain Quality of Service (QoS). The regulator argued that the prescribed time ceiling directly addresses excessive commercial interruptions that degrade viewing experience.

The court highlighted that “excessive or uneven commercial intrusion is not merely an economic concern, rather it constitutes a direct impairment of the right of consumers to a fair and reasonable viewing experience”.

It said broadcasters cannot claim an “unfettered right to exploit spectrum for commercial purposes”.

Underscoring that India’s 12-minute cap is neither extreme nor novel, the court pointed to international practices in countries such as Argentina, Croatia, Canada, Germany, Ireland, and the U.K., which broadly have a ceiling of 9 to 12 minutes per hour.

“To conclude, the impugned regulatory framework represents a constitutionally sound exercise of the state’s authority to regulate a scarce public resource in furtherance of the common good,” the court said while rejecting the plea.

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