The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) today(Sept.13.2010) quashed appointment of 25 newsanchors and reporters in public broadcaster Prasar Bharati. The Tribunal headed by Chairman V K Bali cancelled the appointment of the journalists who are posted at Doordarshan News, saying that allocation of marks in the interview of the candidates was done in an arbitrary and malafide manner.

              The order of the Tribunal came on a petition filed by a journalist, working with DD News channel, who had alleged that the recruitment process in Prasar Bharati was not fair and candidates were selected on the basis of political considerations.

             "The entire selection process is vitiated as the recommendation of candidates has been made most arbitrarily on the basis of pick and choose policy and the selection process smacks of favouritism and nepotism," advocate Sanjai Pathak appearing for the petitioner had contended.

             He had alleged that special tests were conducted for two selected candidates two months after all the applicants appeared in the examination and some other candidates were allowed to appear for interview without appearing in mandatory written exam."At least two of the selected candidates are directly connected to influential politicians. One of the successful candidates is closely related to the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and another successful candidate is the daughter of a local MP," Harikesh Bahadur Singh, the petitioner had alleged in his petition.

             The Tribunal rejected the contention of Prasar Bharati that the appointment process was fair and transparent. Reacting to the order, Prasar Bharati counsel Arun Bhardwaj said an appeal would soon be filed in the Delhi High Court.