New Delhi: A month after his name was cleared by the search committee, headed by vice-president M. Venkaiah Naidu, the government on Friday re-appointed A. Surya Prakash as the chairperson of public broadcaster Prasar Bharati, with a curtailed tenure.
Sources stated that though the name of Mr Prakash, who left office of the Prasar Bharati chairperson in last week of October, was cleared by the committee early last moth.
However, it is understood that the delay happened due to legal issues being pointed to by the Smriti Irani headed information and brodcasting ministry.
It is understood that though the second term for Mr Prakash was approved with I&B minister on board, however, the notification took weeks as a few queries regarding his age were raised.
It is understood that the issue has also been discussed at the topmost government level in the Prime Minister’s Office.
The government notification states that Mr A. Surya Prakash Prakash has been appointed the chairman of the Prasar Bharati board till February 8, 2020, the day when he attains the age of 70 years.
Sources stated that as per the Prasar Bharati Act there is a provision that does not allow a chairperson beyond age of 70 years. It is learnt that a new proposal was cleared in which Prakash was appointed to the top post till the day he attained age of 70 in his tenure. Sources stated that the amended proposal was cleared by the the I&B ministry and a notification issued.
About a month ago, the name of the former journalist was approved by a statutory three-member body headed by vice-president M Venkaiah Naidu and Press Council of India chairman and I&B Secretary as members.
During the confusion over the age of proposed Board chairperson, the public broadcaster was without a chairperson for over a month. In his first tenure, Prakash was appointed as the chief of Prasar Bharati in October 2014 a few months after the NDA government came to power for a full tenure of three years. The public broadcaster oversees the functioning of Doordarshan and All India Radio (AIR).
