NEW DELHI: Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni said Saturday that the appointment of a new chief executive officer for Prasar Bharati - Jawhar Sircar ? would result in expediting all pending issues in the pubcaster, especially those related to employees.

Vacancies in Doordarshan and All India Radio would be filled and efforts will be made to make all stations and those in the border areas functional, Soni said.

"While maintaining the autonomous structure of Prasar Bharati, I want issues related to staff resolved because they have been pending for a very long time," Soni told reporters here.

"We have recently formed recruitment rules after forming a recruitment board. We are now awaiting the clearances from the Department of Personnel and Training. So wherever there are slots vacant, they should be filled urgently," she added.

"More programmes should be generated in local languages and Doordarshan and Akashvani should reflect a picture of the entire country," Soni said.

NEW DELHI: AK Jain, the beleaguered Member (Finance) in the Prasar Bharati Board, has sought protection against his victimisation by the Board for pointing out irregularities in the functioning of the pubcaster.

Jain made this plea when he had been summoned to tender evidence in the inquiry being conducted by the Supreme Court into the functioning of former CEO BS Lalli.

The inquiry is being conducted in the Registry of the apex court which has already heard evidence of Member (Personnel) and is currently hearing the evidence being tendered by some personnel dealing with Sports. It is learnt that Jain placed documents on record to show financial and administrative irregularities on various issues.

The five allegations established by Central Vigilance Commission relate to contracts for management of advertisement revenue arising from the telecast of cricket matches on Doordarshan during 2007; the non-telecast by Doordarshan of T-20 cricket World Cup matches held in South Africa in September 2007; engagement of legal entities to represent Prasar Bharati; purchase of Radio Broadcasting Rights for 13 cricket series held during 2007-09; and hiring of transport and accommodation for the conduct of the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune in 2008.

Lalli had been suspended on 22 December 2010 following a detailed inquiry by a Supreme Court judge into financial irregularities by him.

President Pratibha Devisingh Patil gave her approval on 21 December 2010 to a reference in this regard sent by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry through the Prime Minister?s office. The President had earlier the same month accepted a reference from the Prime Minister for an inquiry against Lalli, and directed that a Supreme Court judge be appointed for this purpose.

Lalli, who became CEO in December 2006, is a 1971 batch officer of the Indian Administrative Service from Uttar Pradesh. He had succeeded KS Sarma, who had completed his term in June 2006.

NEW DELHI: The report of the Central Vigilance Commission on former Prasar Bharati CEO B S Lalli should be made public before 29 February, the Central Information Commission has said in a direction to the government.

The report which gave details of alleged irregularities in awarding telecast rights and financial mismanagement among others has never been disclosed by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry saying the disclosure would impede the process of investigation.

However, the Ministry had in November 2010 disclosed the five out of seven alleged financial and administrative irregularities of which Lalli had been accused. The CVC had probed the matter on the directive of the Delhi High Court in 2009.

The five allegations established by CVC relate to contracts for management of advertisement revenue arising from the telecast of cricket matches on Doordarshan during 2007; the non-telecast by Doordarshan of T-20 cricket World Cup matches held in South Africa in September 2007; engagement of legal entities to represent Prasar Bharati; purchase of Radio Broadcasting Rights for 13 cricket series held during 2007-09; and hiring of transport and accommodation for the conduct of the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune in 2008.

The directive by the CIC relates to an RTI applicant Aseem Takyar who had sought to know from the Ministry the reports of CVC and Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) against Lalli. The Ministry had said, "information sought vide your application relates to the matter which is under investigation and furnishing of information would impede the process of investigation and hence the information was denied under Section 8(1)(h) of the RTI Act".

The section allows withholding of information which would impede the process of investigation or apprehension or prosecution of offenders by a government department.

Rejecting the arguments of the Ministry, Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi said, "The Respondent (Ministry) has not given any justification or reasoning how disclosing the information would impede the process of investigation."

"Denial of a citizen?s fundamental right must be justified and the mere act of continuing an investigation cannot be used to deny citizens? rights. In view of this, the Commission does not accept the denial of information under Section 8(1)(h) of the RTI Act," Gandhi said.