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Prasar Bharati ordinance lapses, Gill's 'term ends'

Information and Broadcasting Minister Sushma Swaraj today said that with the lapse of the Prasar Bharati ordinance, the role of its Chief Executive Officer S S Gill also ended. The ordinance gave autonomy to Doordarshan and All India Radio.

Addressing the media, Swaraj said the government would introduce a bill to revive the old ordinance in the coming Budget session. She was confident that the bill would be passed in both Houses of Parliament despite the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government not having a majority in the Rajya Sabha.

She denied the allegation that she was bent upon removing Gill. The CEO's appointment was governed by an upper age limit.

Asked to comment on the possibility of Gill approaching the courts, Swaraj said he had no reason to do so.

Other members of the Prasar Bharati Board were not covered by the age-limit stipulation, so they would continue. One member had been appointed governor. This vacancy would be filled, she said.

Swaraj was critical of the Inder Kumar Gujral government for promulgating the Prasar Bharati ordinance in haste. The board's accountability to Parliament would be restored in the new bill, she said.

Denying reports that any member of the board had offered to resign, she said if any member did so, she would request him to reconsider.

The board would continue to function till the new legislation is passed, but she would like it not to take any policy decision, she said.

UNI

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