'Broadcasting Corpn. run by illegal appointee'

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JUNE 15. Critical of the delay in filling up the vacancies within the Prasar Bharti Board, the Congress today said the Broadcasting Corporation of India was being run by an ``absolutely illegal appointee,'' as there was no provision in the Prasar Bharti Act for a Government official to officiate in any capacity on the board.

Bringing up the issue at the regular media briefing here, the party spokesman, Mr. S. Jaipal Reddy - during whose stint as Minister of Information & Broadcasting, the Act was notified - said the work of the chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the Director-General (Doordarshan and All-India Radio), and Member (Personnel and Finance) was being carried out by a single Government officer. ``The Government has no authority at all to make this temporary arrangement.'' Mr. Reddy demanded that the Government take urgent steps to fill up the vacancies before Parliament met for the monsoon session. Referring to the resignation of Dr. Abid Hussain from the board, he said the former Ambassador to the U.S. had left in disgust.

Following Dr. Hussain's resignation, the 15-member board was left with only two part-time members. The Government had been systematically subverting the process of appointments with the ``ulterior motive of filling up all the vacancies with pliable persons,'' Mr. Reddy said.

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Section  : National
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