Govt introduces Prasar Bharati Amendment Bill

The Central government introduced Prasar Bharati Amendment Bill, 2010, in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, Aug 31.

The bill was introduced to give effect to the recommendation of a Group of Ministers (GoM) that all government officers and employees shall continue to serve in the public broadcaster on 'deemed deputation' till the time of their retirement.

The employees working under deputation will get all facilities at par with Central government employees. The legislation was introduced in the House by Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ambika Soni.

Ambika Soni told that in the light of government receiving several representations from Prasar Bharati employees about their status in it, the ministry decided to amend the Prasar Bharati Act 1990, as it did not have provisions to address these concerns.

The decision of the GoM had come as a relief to around 40,000 employees, who have been working in Prasar Bharati on deemed deputation basis. They had been seeking perks which are given to Central Government employees.

The GoM in its meeting on April 16, 2010, had suggested that status quo be maintained on the status of employees in Prasar Bharati belonging Indian Information Service and the Central Secretariat Service and other cadres outside the cadre of Doordarshan and All India Radio. It had further said that the ministry and Prasar Bharati could jointly work out the number of deputation posts to be manned by officers from IIS cadre.

"Since the recommendations of the GoM will settle all long standing issues regarding status of employees working in Prasar Bharati and empower the public broadcaster with all disciplinary and supervisory powers, including the power to transfer, it has become necessary to amend the Act," said Soni.

The Bill also provides that persons recruited after Nov 23, 1997, which is the date on which the Prasar Bharati was set up, and serving in it on the date of decision of the Group of Ministers, Oct 5, 2007, will also be treated as on 'deemed deputation' basis in the Prasar Bharati and enjoy all Central government employees facilities.