In a step that was being forecast by broadcasting pundits for some time, Arun Bhatnagar today told the Delhi High Court that he has tendered his resignation as Chairman of the Prasar Bharati Board.
Bhatnagar cited dissatisfaction with the functioning of the pubcaster and its Chief Executive Officer B S Lalli. Bhatnagar, therefore, sought permission from the Court to withdraw from a public interest litigation challenging the Government's decision to grant a three-year extension to Lalli, but was requested by the judges to assist in the matter, which was thereafter listed for further hearing on 28 May.
Confirming the news over telephone, Bhatnagar told indiantelevision.com it would not be appropriate for him to say anything more at this stage.
Meanwhile, another member of the Board who did not wish to be named said Bhatnagar had resigned under protest and told the Court that he had had enough.
According to the petition by the Centre for Public Interest Litigation, while Parliament had passed a law early last year raising the retirement age of the CEO to 65, it had not made provision for granting extension to the CEO beyond his term of appointment.
Lalli, 62, took charge as Chief Executive Officer of Prasar Bharati at the end of December 2006.
Also Read:
Arun Bhatnagar is Prasar Bharati chairman on http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k8/may/may14.php
(Via Alokesh Gupta, new Delhi)
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