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Journalism of Courage
In what puts a question mark over the governments promise of autonomy to Prasar Bharati,a list prepared by the public broadcaster for top-level appointments in Doordarshan and All India Radio was reportedly returned by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry recently,which advised the board members to sign a fresh letter in which the order of recommendations had been changed.
According to sources,at a board meeting held on March 15,the Prasar Bharati board had shortlisted three candidates for the post of Director General,Doordarshan,and two for the post of DG,AIR. These candidates were selected after they sent in their applications,in response to an advertisement,and were duly interviewed.
The next day,the board sent its recommendations to the I&B Ministry,with the names numbered (a copy of this is with The Indian Express). So,for the post of DG,Doordarshan,L D Mandloi was No. 1,Tripurari Sharma No. 2 and Ram Subhag Singh No. 3. Likewise,for the post of DG,AIR,G Jayalal was No. 1 and L D Mandloi No. 2.
On March 21,the I&B Ministry reportedly sent back the recommendations to the Prasar Bharati board and all members were orally advised to sign a fresh letter in which the order of preference of the candidates had been changed.
I was told the board has decided to send in a fresh recommendation to the ministry with Sharan as the first candidate for the post of DG,Doordarshan,and Mandloi the preferred name for DG,AIR, said a board member.
Another person close to the development said: Such decisions are usually taken in board meetings,whereas this time board members were individually asked to sign fresh letters without any discussion on the order of priority.
The Ministry,however,has denied the allegation. The I&B Ministry merely forwards the recommendations made by the Prasar Bharati Board to Appointments Committee of Cabinet. It doesnt tinker with the recommendations. Since the letter sent by the Prasar Bharati on March 16 didnt say its recommendations were in the order of priority,it was sent back to them to clarify this, said a senior I&B official. The fresh recommendations sent,therefore,may have a different order of names.
