Prasar Bharati chairman to lose perks

NEW DELHI, June 2: If the original Prasar Bharati Bill moved by Sushma Swaraj on Monday is passed, Prasar Bharati Chairman Nikhil Chakravarty will lose the “honorarium and other facilities” provided by the October ordinance, though the Government has promised it will not touch the board members.

The board members will lose their six-year terms. Under the new Bill, the term of office of part-time members will also be six years. One-third of them will retire every two years — this in effect means the terms will be reduced to two, four, and six years. Reacting perhaps to Gill’s veiled threats of going to court, the Government has inserted a new clause in the Bill which says that a whole-time member will cease to hold office immediately after the Bill receives the President’s assent, and will “not be entitled to any compensation because of his ceasing to hold such office”.

No part-time member will be entitled to any compensation. The Bill will give the ministry clout in the Broadcasting Council’sconstitution that has been revived. The President of India will appoint a president and ten board members. Four of them will be Parlaiment members.

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The Bill also takes away the Union Public Service Commission’s power to appoint Prasar Bharati members.

It stipulates the formation of recruitment boards comprising the chairman, other members, ex-officio members, the nominated member, and elected members for posts equivalent to joint secretaries.

This implies that till the boards are formed, there can be no fresh appointments.