Everything in the Information and Broadcasting Ministry is ad hoc. N.J. Krishna, Principal Information Officer (PIO) to the Government, retires on Thursday and her place, it is learnt, will be taken by Senior Additional Principal Information Officer Sahib Singh. Only temporarily.The UPSC, officials said, will take time to appoint a permanent PIO. Adhocism seems to be the buzzword in the Ministry. Nine departmental posts in the Ministry are currently being administered in an ad hoc manner.Some have been recommended for closure by the Expenditure Reforms Committee (ERC) set by the Finance Ministry to cut flab and reduce expenditure. Here’s a list of departments headed by officials who have been given temporary/dual charge:Directorate of Film Festivals: The Director’s post is vacant for the last one year and under the charge of DPIO to the Government. (The ERC recommended that film festivals, the main function of the department, be left to the film industry.)Films Division: Since the last director was raided by the CBI in Mumbai early this year, the department is the additional charge of Director, National Film Development Corporation. (The ERC said a separate films division to produce documentaries and dub them in languages is unnecessary.)Central Board of Film Certification: Chairman’s post lying vacant after Vijay Anand stepped down.Directorate of Field Publicity: Being overseen by the Senior Additional Principal Information Officer. (ERC said the department, with 1,900 employees, is not needed.)Photo Division: Being overseen by the PIO. (ERC recommended that the Press Information Bureau take up the job.)Chairperson, Prasar Bharati Corporation: CEO of the Corporation is looking after the chairman’s job as the post is vacant since September. Three posts of Prasar Bharati Board members vacant.Director General, AIR: Post vacant for the last three years. Being overseen by CEO, Prasar Bharati Corporation.The official reason is that the right candidates have not been found.
