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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.
