February
27,
2004
Press
Release
The
Communist
Party
of
India
(Marxist)
having
the
possession
of
a
number
of
internal
documents
of
the
government
is
outraged
by
the
manner
in
which
the
NDA
government
has
brazenly
flouted
established
norms
to
misuse
public
office
and
the
exchequer
in
the
election
times.
Therefore,
the
Party
feels
that
it
is
incumbent
on
itself
to
bring
the
facts
to
the
notice
of
the
larger
public
and
also
the
election
authorities
because
the
developments
are
a
major
deterrent
to
the
holding
of
a
free
and
fair
election.
To
start
with
the
setting
up
of
the
new
24-hour
Doordarshan
News
Channel
just
ahead
of
the
assembly
elections
and
perhaps,
having
the
Lok
Sabha
elections
in
mind.
But
unlike,
the
normal
and
conventional
manner
of
using
the
regular
government
staff
recruited
under
the
specialised
Indian
Information
Service
(IIS),
a
major
responsibility
to
shape
the
channel
was
bestowed
upon
a
Consulting
Editor-cum-Anchor
contracted
for
a
period
of
three
years.
That
the
government
was
keen
on
sidelining
the
regular
IIS
Officers
is
clear
from
the
breakneck
speed
it
pursued.
On
10th
October,
2003,
a
note
had
been
put
up
for
a
Search
Committee
giving
it
10
names
for
consideration
to
select
a
Consulting
Editor-cum-Anchor.
Within
four
days
the
Search
Committee
met
on
14th
October,
2003.
While
the
Search
Committee
shortlisted
five
people,
the
Committee
at
the
same
time
authorised
the
CEO
(Prasar
Bharati)
Member
Finance
(Prasar
Bharati)
ADG
(N
&
CA),
Doordarshan
News
and
ADG
(Administration),
Doordarshan
to
hold
negotiations
with
the
shortlisted
persons.
But
most
surprisingly,
the
same
minutes
also
suggest
that
the
present
incumbent
may
be
given
a
contract
of
three
years
making
a
mockery
of
the
selection
procedure.
The
Prasar
Bharati
owes
the
nation
an
explanation
as
to
why
an
organisation
which,
since
it
was
notified
in
1996
could
not
yet
frame
a
recruitment
or
a
personnel
policy
was
provoked
to
act
in
such
a
tearing
hurry?
It
is
also
clear
that
the
reservation
guideline
have
also
not
been
followed.
The
guideline
states
`engagement
on
annual
contractual
basis,
which
for
more
than
45
days
with
monthly
emoluments
of
Rs.
75,000/-
does
not
fit
under
any
of
the
categories
wherein
reservation
does
not
apply'.
Moreover,
the
appointment
also
is
violative
of
Department
of
Personnel
and
Training
directive
OM
No.
16012/7/97-Estt.
(allowances),
dated
13.2.1998,
which
has
opined
that
"it
has
now
been
decided
that
henceforth
engagement
of
consultants
(retired
Government
Servants
as
well
as
outside
experts)
should
be
limited
to
skills
which
are
not
available
with
the
cadre".
The
OM
also
says
that
consultants
cannot
be
engaged
for
more
than
two
years.
The
same
OM
of
Department
of
Personnel
and
Training
says
the
fee
to
outside
experts
working
full
time
shall
be
subject
to
a
ceiling
of
Rs.
26,000
per
month
(with
no
DA,
HRA,
CCA
or
any
other
relief).
Again,
contrary
to
this
directive,
the
incumbent
consulting
Editor
is
being
paid
Rs.
1.25
lakhs.
He
is
also
being
provided
transport
round
the
clock
at
the
cost
of
Rs.
2600/day.
Two
more
people
have
been
recruited
as
Assignment
Editor
and
Output
Editor
at
a
remuneration
of
Rs.
90,000
and
Rs.
80,000
per
month
respectively
and
on
similar
terms
and
conditions
on
21st
November,
2003.
The
mystery
of
these
appointments
in
violation
of
all
established
rules
and
regulations
can
be
understood
from
the
direction
issued
from
the
Desk
of
the
ADG
(N
&
CA)
dated
13.1.2004
which
gives
disproportionate
powers
to
the
Assignment
Desk
and
Output
Desk
in
crucially
controlling
virtually
all
output
and
content
of
the
news
during
the
current
phase
in
the
run
up
to
the
elections.
Already
media
watchers
have
come
up
with
critical
observations
on
the
pro-government
bias,
that
the
Doordarshan
news
is
churning
out.
The
second
issue
which
also
needs
to
be
highlighted
is
the
manner
in
which
the
PMO
has
overwhelmed
the
established
channels
of
government's
publicity
administration
in
carrying
out
the
spate
of
government
advertisement
even
including
the
Planning
Commission
to
underline
the
`Shining
India'
and
bolstering
the
`feel
good
factor'.
The
communications
between
the
PMO
and
the
Director,
DAVP
completely
establishes
that
the
Ministries
have
no
say,
whatsoever,
in
finalising
this
ad
blitz
including
preparation
of
the
contents.
The
PMO
correspondence
also
reveals
that
an
`extended'
list
of
publications
to
receive
advertisements
is
discussed
but
not
put
on
paper
as
it
is
possibly
completely
violative
of
the
existing
procedure
and
norms
and
also
further
to
manipulate
the
editorial
policies
of
small
and
medium
sized
regional
newspapers.
We,
of
the
CPI(M),
have
seen
nothing
similar
in
terms
of
brazen
conduct
of
an
incumbent
government
on
the
eve
of
earlier
general
elections.
We
call
upon
the
people
to
rebuff
this
outrageous
display
of
attempts
in
manipulating
government
controlled
funds
and
resources.
We
also
urge
the
Election
Commission
to
take
note
of
this
unseemly
developments
to
establish
a
level
playing
field
during
the
elections.