The Centre’s proposal to induct film-maker Shyam Benegal in the board of directors at Prasar Bharati has been struck down by the parliament committee.
The Centre’s proposal to induct film-maker Shyam Benegal in the board of directors at Prasar Bharati has been struck down by the parliament committee. The reasons — Benegal is a member of parliament in the Rajya Sabha and hence cannot hold any office of profit.
Prasar Bharati is a government of India owned corporation registered under the companies act.
The new board of directors for Prasar Bharati had nominated Benegal’s name to appoint him as a member. The ministry of information and broadcasting conveyed the decision to him. But, before making the decision, the director referred the matter to the chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Hamid Ansari, for his permission.
The question being debated was whether a Rajya Sabha member, who was a presidential nominee, could hold a private office. The ministry of parliament affairs and ministry of information and broadcasting found nothing wrong in an eminent director playing a significant role as a board member in Prasar Bharati. But the parliament committee on offices of profit, under the chairmanship of Revati Raman Singh, believed otherwise.
The committee felt if Benegal was allowed to take up the role in Prasar Bharati, he would have to relinquish his charge as MP. The argument given was that as a board of director of Prasar Bharati, he would have voting rights on all policies and financial decisions of the board. As per the provisions, he would draw Rs2,000 per meeting, but an MP is entitled to Rs1,000 for any committee meeting.
Earlier in the year, journalist and author Mrinal Pande was named the new chairperson of Prasar Bharti. Along with Benegal, journalist Suman Dubey and film-maker Muzaffar Ali had been also been appointed on the board.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}