Tribune News Service
CHANDIGARH, Aug 30 — Mr Satya Pal Jain, local MP and whip of the BJP parliamentary party in the Lok Sabha, today welcomed the ordinance to amend the Prasar Bharti Act. He said the amendment would "restore real autonomy to the electronic media".
In a statement issued here, Mr Jain said the amendment would put into operation the original Act as passed by both Houses of Parliament in 1990. But the Congress government did not notify it until November, 1997. At the time of notification by the United Front government, drastic changes were made without getting the ordinance approved by any of the Houses of Parliament. Now Prasar Bharti shall be accountable to the Lok Sabha Committee represented by members of different political parties.
Mr Jain said the provision of maximum age of 65 years for the Chief Executive Officer was perfectly legal, valid and constitutional.
