Apex court refuses to restore Prasar Bharati CEO's exclusive powers

In accordance with a Delhi High Court order, the Supreme Court today directed that all day-to-day works of the public broadcaster, Prasar Bharati, would be managed by a three-member team consisting of the chief executive officer and members (finance and personnel).

A bench comprising justices R V Raveendran and A K Patnaik clarified that the Delhi High Court’s order for appointing the three-member committee to handle day-to-day affairs of the corporation would be applicable till it decided on Prasar Bharati CEO B S Lalli’s appeal against the Delhi High Court verdict.

“Until further order, it is made clear that the direction in the office order of August 20, 2009, issued by Prasar Bharati secretariat under the signature of its CEO, stating that all executive powers delegated by the board to the sub-committee comprising the CEO, member (finance) and member (personnel) shall be implemented,” the bench said.

The court was hearing an appeal filed by Lalli challenging the HC order, which had directed that the day-to-day work of the public broadcaster would be handled by a three-man team consisting the CEO, member (finance) and member (personnel) of the board.

In its interim order on August 24, 2009, in line with the high court order, the apex Court had allowed a Central Vigilance Committee inquiry into the alleged financial irregularity of the corporation, but stayed the part of the order in which the HC had appointed a retired judge as an observer for the board meeting.

During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General Vivek Tankha informed the court that the CVC report had been received and it had been referred to the law ministry for its views.

The bench, however, said it had nothing to do with that report at present and favoured the implementation of the direction relating to the day-to-day functioning of Prasar Bharati by the three-member board.