The government appears to be adopting a flexible stance on the conditional access system with a 'soft launch' on July 15, and is not likely to make the set-top boxes mandatory for viewing pay channels from this date.

"We will implement CAS on July 15.  But we will be a little more imaginative and ensure no one is harassed," Pawan Chopra, seceretary, information and broadcasting ministry, said in New Delhi on Friday.

He said the law will apply when there are enough set-top boxes and can be made available immediately on demand.

"The penal provisions should be made effective only then," Chopra said.

The government will go for a 'soft launch' of CAS, he said, adding that this would be technologically possible.

Admitting that the six-month deadline was a little 'tight' for its implementation, he said there was still no clarity on the rates of pay channels.