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Prasar Bharati acting CEO likely to get six-month extension

Prasar Bharati acting chief executive officer R.R. Shah is likely to get another extension for six months. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has recommended his continuation in the post of acting CEO of Prasar Bharati to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), senior ministry officials said.

He is expected to hold the position till the time a regular CEO is appointed, officials added. The formal nod from ACC to that effect is expected within the next couple of weeks.

Interestingly, R.R. Shah’s tenure as acting CEO of Prasar Bharati was till June 19, 2000. Besides holding the additional charge at Prasar Bharati he is currently joint secretary in the Ministry of I&B.

Meanwhile, the Ministry has asked the Prasar Bharati Board to expedite the process of filling up senior positions in Doordarshan and All India Radio too. These include the positions of Director General for Doordarshan and AIR and Member (Finance) and (Personnel). “The vacancies at the top positions has been taking a toll on the functioning of these organisation,” a senior ministry official said. I&B Minister Arun Jaitley and senior ministry officials are currently deliberating on the issues surrounding the implementation of recommendations of the three-member Prasar Bharati review committee.

As per recommendations of the review committee, one thought process in the Ministry is that the powers of Prasar Bharati CEO has to be counter-balanced by the Board having the power to evict him from his position. The review committee had recommended a free-hand to the CEO who would act as the go-between the Board and a executive body.

The government is expected to come out with amendments to the Prasar Bharati Act in light of the recommendations of the review committee in the oncoming monsoon session of Parliament. Consultations in this regard are also on with other political parties. Those involved in the consultation process include representatives of employees from DD and AIR, members of Prasar Bharati Board, review committee members and senior ministry officials.

Sudipto Dey