SC declines to stay CVC probe into Doordarshan irregularities
22 Aug 2009
The Supreme Court has declined to stay a probe by the Central Vigilance Commission that is looking into the alleged financial irregularities in Doordarshan (DD)'s administration.
The case pertains to the steep hike in payments made by Doordarshan as legal fees. According to reports, there was a six-fold increase in the fees, to Rs4.25 crore, since 2007 as against Rs40 lakh paid between 2004 and 2007.
DD has prescribed rules on payment of fees to lawyers it hires, which is Rs4,500 for a hearing. Prasar Bharati, which controls both DD and All India Radio, had asked the CVC to conduct a probe.
The probe was instigated following DD director-general Aruna Sharma's report which said that around Rs1.10 crore were paid to six lawyers.
B S Lalli, the CEO of Prasar Bharti, has refuted the allegations saying the payments were made in accordance with the rules.
The Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL) has also challenged in court DD's lack of an internal audit following the grant of bids worth billions for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.