Prasar Bharati, Centre on collision course

Prasar Bharati, Centre on collision course

Context:

• The Prasar Bharati Board on Thursday will discuss a proposal of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry to appoint an IAS officer as a board member, giving it a larger say in the working of the autonomous public service broadcaster.

Introduction:

• Surya Prakash, who was recently reappointed Prasar Bharati Chairperson, is likely to red-flag the appointment as it is in contravention of two clauses of the Prasar Bharati Act.
• The member (personnel) is responsible for all the personnel and administrative matters concerning the public service broadcaster.

Purpose of this decision:

• To have a better control over the autonomous body.

Against the Act:

• Clause 4(1) of the Act says the Chairman and all the members of the board are to be appointed by the President on the recommendation of a committee consisting of the Vice-President, the Chairman of the Press Council of India and a nominee of the President.
•  Clause 6(2) says the member (personnel) “shall be whole-time member”.
• Clause 6(7) says whole-time members shall be the employees of the corporation.

What is the controversy?

• It is not under the board’s jurisdiction to make such a suggestion to the government when there is an Act that clearly lays down the method to make such an appointment.
• The proposal seeks to bypass the office of Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu and if such a resolution is cleared, it will denigrate his position.