Justice Mukul Mudgal is the former Chief Justice of Punjab & Haryana High Court. He was appointed Chairperson of Digital Media Content Regulatory Council (DMCRC) in July 2023. He took over from DMCRC’s Founding Chair, Justice Vikramajit Sen.
Born on January 4, 1949, Justice Mudgal, an alumnus of Modern School, New Delhi, holds a BSc (Hons) in Chemistry from Hindu College, Delhi University and an LLB from Law Faculty, Delhi University. He enrolled as an Advocate in 1973. He was an Advocate on Record in the Supreme Court (1978-98) and Member Secretary/Treasurer of the Supreme Court Legal Aid Committee (1986-95). He conducted cases in Civil Law, Constitutional Law, Labour Law and Public Interest Litigation.
Justice Mudgal was appointed a Judge of Delhi High Court on March 2, 1998 and elevated as Chief Justice of Punjab & Haryana High Court on December 5, 2009. He retired on January 4, 2011.
Justice Mudgal authored a book, Law and Sports in India, in December 2010. As a counsel in 1989, he successfully represented eight banned cricketers. He appeared as Amicus Curiae in the Supreme Court, including in cases on prison reforms, environment and gender justice. He was Member, National Legal Services Authority and Member, Governing Council of Indian Law Institute. He served as Honorary Secretary of International Law Association (India Chapter). He is a Member of Court of Arbitration for Sport, Geneva. Justice Mudgal visited South Africa as part of a delegation led by the Chief Justice of India and lectured at South African universities. He represented India in the ILA seminars in Rio de Janeiro and Toronto.
Justice Mudgal chaired the drafting committee for the National Sports Development Bill and the Doping Probe Committee constituted by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. He chaired the committee that proposed amendments to the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972. He was Advisor to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation for the Slum Dwellers Act and the Rickshaw Pullers Act. Justice Mudgal headed the one-man committee appointed by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs to probe the Walmart lobbying allegations and chaired the committee of experts to examine issues of certification under Cinematograph Act, 1952. The Supreme Court also appointed him Chairperson of the IPL probe committee.
Justice Mudgal has also served as the Chairperson of Broadcasting Content Complaints Council (BCCC), the content regulatory arm for linear non-news TV Channels under the aegis of Indian Broadcasting & Digital Foundation (IBDF).
Justice Mudgal has written widely on legal and sport issues, including separation of powers, Right to Information qua CBI, Powers of Press Council and DRS system in cricket. The International Cricket Council appointed him Independent Advisor to the Lord Woolf Committee. The External Affairs Ministry sent him as Advisor to the Enquiry Committee set up by the Maldivian Government to look into change of regime in the island-nation. Justice Mudgal has delivered about 100 Arbitration judgments as Judge of Delhi and Punjab & Haryana high courts. He has been appointed Arbitrator in more than 50 cases.
She is an Artist, Filmmaker and Writer. A gold medalist in Commercial Arts from Sophia Polytechnic, Mumbai, she spent over a decade in the advertising world telling stories for the biggest brands in India and Southeast Asia. She has won several advertising ‘craft’ awards across the world for her layered ideas and in-depth understanding of human psychology at the grassroots level. She has directed the critically acclaimed, award-winning short films 'What's for Breakfast?' 'Brothers' and 'Ghar ki Murgi' (Taken for Granted). In 2020, Ashwiny was selected by Forbes as “A self-made woman of India”. Ashwani has directed commercial blockbusters like Panga, Nil Battey Sannata and Bareilly ki Barfi.
He is credited with being the key driving force behind content production in India. Paris-headquartered content powerhouse Banijay Group has set up its office for India and Southeast Asia in partnership with Deepak Dhar, former Endemol India managing director. Deepak started his journey in the broadcasting industry in 1996.
He was listed in the Economic Times Spencer Stuart ‘India’s Hottest 40 under 40 Business Leaders’ in 2015 and recognized as one of the ‘Most Promising Leaders of Asia in 2016’ at The Economic Times Asian Business Leaders Conclave for Demonstrating Exemplary Leadership Qualities, throughout his career.
A National Award-winning filmmaker with a film career spanning 20 years - Nikkhil's film “Delhi Safari” was India’s first stereoscopic 3-D Animation Feature. It advocated for wildlife conservation and is currently being developed into a full-fledged franchise in Hollywood. He began assisting art-house film directors, Saeed Mirza, Kundan Shah, and Sudhir Mishra and his very first outing as a co-screenplay writer for 'Iss Raat Ki Subah Nahin' was critically appreciated.
Nikhil has directed commercial blockbusters like Kal Ho Na Ho, Salaam E Ishq, Patiala House, Chandni Chowk to China, Katti Batti, Airlift and many more films.
He is a creative writer and innovative director, who is known for his meaningful, award-winning and heart-winning movies. He is the creator of timeless movies/TV shows like Bandit Queen, Bombay Blues, Paan Singh Tomar, Hasil, Charas, Just Mohabbat, etc. He has countless top-grossing, critically acclaimed, and brilliantly directed movies to his credit, as a writer and producer. Post graduated in acting, he completed his Master's Degree in Theatre in 1989. Among them he won the National Award for his movie Paan Singh Tomar and has acted in the Gangs of Wasseypur series as Ramadhir Singh.
General Counsel and Director, Sony Pictures Networks India
Ashok is responsible for overseeing the Corporate Relations, Legal & Regulatory Affairs and the Standards & Practices functions supporting SPN’s businesses in India and abroad. He also serves as the Company's Ombudsperson.
Ashok is a member of the Indian Broadcasting & Digital Foundation (IBDF)'s Legal Affairs Sub-Committee and former member of the Broadcast Content Complaints Council. He also serves on the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) Disciplinary Committee. His areas of expertise include corporate restructuring, Board & investor matters, copyright, property, labour, civil and criminal litigation, regulatory affairs as well as mergers and acquisitions. Prior to joining SPN in 2007, he was Senior Director - Legal & Regional General Counsel with Philips Electronics India Limited in Mumbai, where he held multiple positions, including Head of Legal Affairs for Philips in India and South Asia; Compliance Officer under Philips’ General Business Principles; and member of the India management team from 2003 onwards.
He oversees legal and regulatory affairs for Star & Disney India. Mihir has been practicing law for nearly two decades across both contentious and non-contentious issues. Since joining Star India as a Manager in 2009, Mihir has played an instrumental role in the growth of the company. He is now the Chief Regional Counsel for Star and Disney India. Mihir has played a pivotal role in guiding the company and the industry through challenging regulations under an ever-evolving regulatory landscape in India. He began his career with Haresh Jagtiani & Associates as a litigation counsel practicing before the Bombay High Court. Prior to joining Star India, Mihir worked at AZB & Partners, where he practiced both contentious and non-contentious assignments. He holds an LLB and is a Bachelor of Socio-legal Sciences, both from the Indian Law Societies, Law College, and the University of Pune.
