Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar offers to quit

Prasar Bharati Chief executive Officer Jawhar Sircar is expected to stay on till the auction of DD slots, sources said

Jawhar Sircar, chief executive officer of Prasar Bharati, has written to the information and broadcasting ministry stating his wish to resign from the post with effect from November 4, sources told PTI.

Sircar was appointed CEO in 2012 by the United Progressive Alliance-II government and his term expires in February.

In the letter to I&B Minister M Venkaiah Naidu sent on Monday, Sircar conveyed his desire to leave "just after Diwali", which falls on October 30. He has written another letter to I&B Secretary Ajay Mittal saying he would like to tender his resignation from the post "with effect from November 4". When contacted, Naidu refused to comment on the matter.

Earlier, the I&B Ministry had taken exception to some news reports suggesting that Sircar planned to quit prematurely due to government's "interference" in the functioning of the public broadcaster and termed them as "unfair and baseless".

"In the letter, Sircar has also informed of his wish to relocate to Kolkata," an official source said. Sources added that Sircar may stay on till the auction policy for Doordarshan slots is cleared.

When contacted, Sircar said he did not wish to make any comment.

Last month, Sircar had said he was considering resigning from the post and he had thought "very strongly" about this option. Sircar had made the comment when asked if he was contemplating resignation amid speculation that he might seek premature retirement.

Sircar had retired as secretary, culture, in the Union government and was then appointed Prasar Bharati CEO.