Security nod may be made mandatory for Prasar Bharati members

The Information and Broadcasting ministry is mulling making security clearance mandatory for candidates before appointment as Prasar Bharati board members in the backdrop of sexual assault charges against Tarun Tejpal, who had been selected for the post.
After the alleged assault came to light, Vice-President Hamid Ansari had asked the Ministry to immediately cancel Tejpal's name from the list finalised for part-time members in the board.
Tejpal's name was finalised in a selection committee meeting headed by Ansari on November 19, 2013, a day before the scandal became public.
Responding to an RTI application filed by activist Subhash Agrawal, the Ministry said at present there was no provision for character certificate and intelligence report of personalities which are considered for selection of part-time members in the Prasar Bharati Board.

The willingness from the selected part-time member is obtained after their selection, the ministry said.
"However, after this (Tejpal's alleged sexual assault) incident the Ministry is trying to consider the fact that the security clearance may also be obtained from Ministry of Home Affairs in respect of persons to be considered for appointment as Part-time Member in Prasar Bharati," it said.
The Ministry said the recommendations made in the selection committee meeting where Tejpal's name was finalised has "not attained finality as yet".