MUMBAI:The charges of sexual harassment against Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal have cost him the membership of the Prasar Bharti Board.
If reports are to be believed, on Tuesday, Tejpal was selected as a member of the Prasar Bharti Board by a committee headed by Vice President Hamid Ansari. But soon after Tejpal's alleged sexual assault made headlines, Ansari immediately asked the Information and Broadcasting Ministry (I &B) to annul it. The selection committee is headed by Rajya Sabha Chairperson (Vice-President of India), the Chairman of the Press Council of India and one nominee of the President.
The Prasar Bharati Board comprises a chairman, an executive member (CEO), a member (finance), a member (personnel), six part-time members, a representative of the I &B ministry and the DG of All India Radio and Doordarshan as ex-officio members.
The Chairman is a part-time member with a six-year tenure. The Executive Member has tenure of five years. Member (Finance) and member (Personnel) are full time members with six-year tenure, subject to the age limit of 62 years.
After the whole incident came to light, Tejpal had written an open letter offering to rescue him from the post and the office for six months. The incident is said to have taken place in the lift of a hotel in Goa where they were staying for an event. Goa police is probing into the matter.