CAT stays order aimed at victimising Prasar Bharati official

NEW DELHI: The Central Administrative Tribunal has stayed an order of Prasar Bharati asking Member (Personnel) V Shivakumar to vacate his official premises when he retires on 28 October.

The Principal Bench of CAT also stayed the orders issued for recovering from his salary the rentals paid by him over the past several years for the accommodation.

Under Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) Act 1990, Shivakumar is entitled to get premises on rent and also receive re-imbursement of this rent to a certain extent. Furthermore, any person retiring from government service is entitled to retain the premises for at least two to three months after the date of retirement.

It is alleged in the petition filed before CAT that the action was prompted following his opposition to certain decisions taken in the Prasar Bharati Board.

These directions are stated to be arbitrary and against the Act and norms of service rules.

Prasar Bharati sources told indiantelevision.com that Shivakumar had opposed certain decisions taken by Rajiv Takru, who is officiating as chief executive officer of the pubcaster. Takru is also the Additional Secretary in the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.