Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, the cult serial by Ekta Kapoor, is supposed to end on Thursday night, but the courtroom drama is not over. Balaji, the producer, has filed an appeal against single judge's order.
"Single judge of Bombay High Court on Monday refused to stay termination notice served by Star TV to Balaji. The appeal against his ruling will come up before division bench tomorrow," Balaji's lawyer Janak Dwarkadas said.
Star decided to scrap the serial following a drop in its TRPs during July-September period. Balaji Telefilms moved vacation bench of Bombay High Court last week, seeking stay to the termination notice. Balaji's counsel Ram Jethmalani argued that agreement between the two parties provided that the show will run at least upto March 2009.
Jethmalani also contended that Star did not fulfill its obligation to promote the serial through advertising. But Star's counsel Ravi Kadam said that the programme had outlived its life and that serial had to be taken off air, because the channel was losing viewers. "The agreement provided that serial could be stopped if its TRP fell by 20 percent viz a viz the TRP in June 2008," Star's lawyer contended.
Jethmalani however denied that there was any viewers' fatigue. Serial was still among the top ten, he argued. But High Court refused to grant stay to the termination notice, saying it was for arbitration panel to decide on contentious issues.
