Prasar Bharati starts process to recognise staff bodies

NEW DELHI: Prasar Bharati has asked all departments of All India Radio and Doordarshan to start the process of recognition of the various associations and unions under the conditions laid down in the eight-year old Recognition of Service Associations office memorandum of 5 November 1993.

The heads of the departments have been asked to bring the memorandum to the notice of the employees and file an action taken report.

Report also has to be filed about fulfillment of the conditions or otherwise of the existing conditions by 30 November.

Earlier on 8 September, Prasar Bharati had issued an order to the effect that no association of employees of the pubcaster is recognised and therefore no employee can be given preferential treatment. It further said all employees are to be treated in a fair and transparent manner and nullified an earlier order issued by Director General of All India Radio on 18 December 2008.

Thereafter, the nine recognised associations went to the Delhi High Court, which has since referred the matter to the Central Administrative Tribunal.

In a letter to Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni at that time, the "Recognized Association?s Forum of Akashwani and Doordarshan" had said that the agitation is being resorted because of the ?Illegal and autocratic steps? by the Additional Secretary Rajiv Takru who is a Nominated Member in Prasar Bharati Board and its acting CEO ?to crush employees associations?.

The letter had said: ?it is shocking for the employees of AIR and Doordarshan that the Prasar Bharati Secretariat issued the order dated 08/09/2011, declaring that no Association in AIR and Doordarshan are recognised. This order is issued in spite of the fact that the various recognised Associations brought the facts repeatedly to the notice of Ministry that the recognition of these Associations is intact.? It then went on to quote various orders that proved that several of these associations were recognised.