MUMBAI: Telecom Disputes Settlement Appellate Tribunal (Tdsat) has allowed information and broadcasting (I&B) ministry time till 3 January 2008 to reply to a petition challenging a one-week ban imposed by it on Red FM.

Stating that the government was still in the process of studying Red FM`s petition, Rakesh Gosain, counsel appearing for I&B ministry, sought some more time, reports PTI.

The government is still studying... the petition. It is going ahead... looking thoroughly from various angles and wider ramifications," PTI quoted Gosain as informing Tdsat.

Accepting the request, Tdsat chairman justice Arun Kumar adjourned the matter to 3 January 2008.

Meanwhile, he also made it clear that the FM channel would continue to enjoy the protection granted by the tribunal against the ministry`s order to ban it for one week.

In September I&B ministry had imposed a ban to the FM station after one of the station`s radio jockey made a communal comment.

As reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com, Tdsat had allowed the interim stay order on banning the station for a week to continue till 13 November, while the I&B ministry could continue to enquire into the matter.