HC questions Prasar Bharati on CEO’s ‘illegal’ extension

The Delhi High Court sought a response from the Chairman of Prasar Bharati Board on a PIL alleging that tenure of its CEO was illegally extended.

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday sought a response from the Chairman of Prasar Bharati Board on a PIL alleging that tenure of its CEO B S Lalli was illegally extended,a charge refuted by the government.

A bench comprising Chief Justice A P Shah and Justice N K Kaul issued notice to the chairman Arun Bhatnagar on a petition by an NGO,Centre for Public Interest Litigation,which also sought independent investigation into alleged financial irregularities in the public broadcaster.

Additional Solicitor General Parag Tripathi,appearing for the government,contended that Lalli’s term got extended after an amendment was brought in the Prasar Bharati Act raising the superannuation age to 65 from 62.

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Lalli,who was due to retire on April 21 at the age of 62,hence got the extension,he said.

The ASG refuted the allegations of the NGO and questioned the authenticity of documents given by it purported to be minutes of Board meeting in which some members were believed to have raised questions on the functioning of the CEO.

“We have the audio recording of the board meeting and it is not consistent with the report filed by the petitioner,” Tripathi contended.

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