‘I&B Min can amend PB Act to ensure functional autonomy’

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry may suitably amend provisions of Prasar Bharati Act but ensure that functional autonomy of the public broadcaster envisaged in the Act was not diluted and much desired autonomy was secured, a Parliamentary Panel has suggested.

In a report on Demand for Grants (2015-16) of the ministry, the Standing Committee on Information Technology said it had been given to understand that the sections in the Prasar Bharati Act, 1990 which empower Central Government to regulate recruitment conditions in Prasar Bharati are impinging upon the autonomous character of the organisation.

It added that as per I&B Ministry, the Group of Ministers (GoM) on Prasar Bharati had reviewed the Prasar Bharati Act, 1990 and recommended certain amendments to the Act to improve the governance in Prasar Bharati. The Committee said that they have been informed that these contentious sections were not covered in the GoM recommendations.

“The Ministry are in process of assessing and analysing the proposals made in the Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) Amendment Bill.