Hunt for new Prasar Bharati CEO begins as Lalli's term ends

NEW DELHI: With the official term of suspended Prasar Bharati chief executive officer BS Lalli having come to an end, the three-member selection panel is expected to meet this week to select his successor for the next five years.

Under the Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) Act 1990, a committee headed by the Vice President, with the Chairman of the Press Council and a nominee of the President as members, has the powers to appoint the Prasar Bharati chairman or CEO.

Although no names have been disclosed, Prasar Bharati sources told indiantelevision.com that Jawahar Sircar, secretary in the culture ministry, presently heads the list of aspirants.

During the recent discussion on the Prasar Bharati (Amendment) Bill in Parliament, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni had said that delay had been because the committee had not met, but officials said that Lalli had been suspended and not removed, and therefore a full time CEO could not be appointed as he was still on the rolls.

Lalli was due to retire on 28 December with his five-year tenure getting over. He was suspended after the Shunglu Committee report indicted him for irregularities in the broadcast contract of the Commonwealth Games. A CBI probe was also launched into the matter.

I&B Additional Secretary Rajiv Takru had been functioning as acting CEO since January last year.

Sources said seeking the Presidential reference to the Supreme Court for removal of Lalli would have taken a long time and therefore it had been considered wiser to wait till his term got over.

The Ministry has already confirmed that it is in favour of changing the appointment and removal procedure of the CEO and to curtail his powers.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that while permission was needed for the Central Bureau of Investigation to proceed against Lalli, no such permission is needed for any CBI action against former Doordarshan Director General Aruna Sharma since she is no longer in service with the Union Government has she has been reverted to her home cadre.