NEW DELHI: Baljit Singh Lalli, an Indian Administrative Service officer of the 1971 batch from the Uttar Pradesh cadre, is to take over as the new Prasar Bharati CEO.

The post had been vacant since K S Sarma retired on 30 June after serving a term of six years. However, the post was held on a temporary basis first by Doordarshan Director General Navin Kumar until his retirement and then by All India Radio DG Brijeshwar Singh.

The candidature of Lalli, who is presently the secretary in charge of border management in the union ministry of home, was selected on 21 December by a high-level committee meeting under vice president Bhairon Singh Shekhawat. The name could not be announced earlier as information and broadcasting minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi was out of the capital.

Under the Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) Act 1990, the selection of the chief executive has to be made by a high-level committee comprising the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Press Council of India Chairman (Justice G N Ray), and a nominee of the president. It is understood that S K Arora who is secretary in the I&B ministry was the third member on the committe.

The chief executive normally has a term of six years and functions under the Prasar Bharati board that is headed by a Chairman.

Meanwhile, AK Jain who is a 1977 batch IAS Officer has taken over as the member (Finance) of Prasar Bharati, following his appointment to the post on the recommendations of the high powered selection committee. He will hold the office of member (Finance) for a period of six years, as per the provisions of the Prasar Bharati Act.

V. Shivakumar is the new member (Personnel) of Prasar Bharati. He is presently holding the post of director (HR) in MTNL - a board level position. The post of member (personnel) was lying vacant since the retirement of D P S Lamba.

Jain, an M.B.A. in finance and marketing from the Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), Delhi, also holds an MBA in finance and public sector management from the University of Hull, United Kingdom. He claims to have grounding in financial management and corporate affairs and has worked in the department of public enterprises/ heavy industries and the ministry of chemicals and fertilizers in his previous postings. He acquired first hand experience in the functioning of commercial enterprises as the executive director of NAFED.

Having served a tenure as the joint secretary in the ministry of home affairs, Jain was the principal secretary to the government of Nagaland before his new assignment.

The appointment of a full-time member (Finance) assumes significance in view of the corporate restructuring plan being worked out for Prasar Bharati. A group of ministers is deliberating the issue.