DD told to treat old faces on par with new

Some 25 Doordarshan news correspondents curiously appointed in the category of artists in 1987-88 and denied promotion for the last 14 years...

Some 25 Doordarshan news correspondents curiously appointed in the category of artists in 1987-88 and denied promotion for the last 14 years, now have reason to cheer. They are still clubbed as ‘‘artists’’, while the 21 new newscasters recruited just two months ago draw twice as much salary.

Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court comprising Justice Jagdish Bhalla and Justice P.K. Chatterjee has directed respondents, Secretary I&B Ministry, CEO Prasar Bharati Corporation, DG DD and Deputy Director General (News) that the ‘‘new persons on contract should not be given more salary than the petitioners and minimum two promotions should be given to them within four months’’.

The new recruits were appointed with the help of head-hunters Messers Ferguson for salaries varying between Rs 20,000 and Rs 40,000. They are on contract for a year. This when the Prasar Bharati Corporation had taken a decision to shut down their 24-hour News Channel.

Story continues below this ad

All this while, the 25 — out of the 51 artists so appointed in 1987 — had no cadre to speak of, though the then I&B secretary Bhaskar Ghose had regularised their services, and languished as the new newcasters took over.

Interestingly, these appointments were made not to fulfill 26 posts lying vacant across the country but for reasons best known to those concerned. ‘‘I have no idea that any such directive has been given by the HC. All persons have gone and I cannot give details,’’ DD Lucknow director Prabhu Jhingran said.

In Delhi, DDG News Swagat Ghosh reacted in a similar manner. ‘‘I haven’t read the copy of the order,’’ he said.

‘‘This is a landmark decision and has pulled us out of the agony we were going through for many years,’’ said A.P. Dewan, one of the petitioners and news correspondent in Lucknow. He also happens to be the president of the Doordarshan India Journalist Association.

Story continues below this ad

Sources said while correspondents were not given any promotions since 1987 those entrusted with handling the camera (video executives) were regularly promoted as a result of which 17 such persons are station directors at the moment in the 27 ‘‘generating centres’’.

The HC has also directed the CEO, Prasar Bharati Coporation, K.S. Sarma, or any other officer of his rank to appear in person with all relevant records on October 28.