Prasar Bharati CEO B S Lalli withdraws appeal in SC

While allowing him to withdraw the appeal, a bench comprising justices R V Raveendran and A K Patnaik clarified that it would not affect pending case against him in the Delhi High Court filed by and NGO.

The bench said if the High Court passes the order in favour of the NGO Centre for Public Interest Litigation then it will adversely stand against Lalli. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the NGO, pleaded the bench to extend its interim order of Nov 19 in which it had reiterated the High Court order that the day-to-day functioning of the corporation would be handled by a three-member committee.

The bench, however, asked him to approach the Delhi High Court on the issue when it hears the CPIL's petition on January 21. In an interim order, the High Court had directed a CVC inquiry into the alleged financial irregularities of the Corporation and said that all day-to-day work of the public broadcaster would be handled jointly by a three-member team consisting of its CEO and Members (Finance and Personnel).

Challenging the order, the CEO against whom a Presidential reference has been to the Supreme Court for an inquiry into charges against him recently, had approached the Supreme Court which had upheld CVC inquiry  as directed by the High Court.

But the apex court had stayed the part of the order in which the HC had appointed a retired judge as an observer for the board meeting.