NEW DELHI, Jan 25:
All India Radio (AIR) has been restrained by the Central Administrative Tribunal from holding its proposed auditions for fresh appointments of radio jockeys till the grievances of existing ones are redressed.
“In the interest of justice, we … Direct that the respondents (AIR and others) shall not proceed further with proposed conducting of auditions for fresh appointments or engagement of casual radio jockey (RJ) presenters, till their representations are disposed of,” the CAT bench, comprising members G George Paracken and Manjulika Gautam, said.
The panel’s direction came on the plea of AIR Broadcasting Professionals Association opposing the proposal of the national broadcaster to recruit fresh RJs through auditions, which are to commence from January 28, without reddressing its grievances.
The association had also alleged inaction on the part of the I&B ministry, Prasar Bharati and AIR in addressing their representations and formulating a comprehensive policy laying down the required strength of RJs and the service conditions.
Disposing of the plea at the first hearing, the panel said that the existing employees have a “legitimate right” to get their grievances redressed and keeping them “pending or remaining silent” was “no solution”.
“We dispose of this original application at the admission stage with the direction to the respondents (Ministry of I and B, Prasar Bharati, AIR) to consider representations of the applicants and dispose them by a reasoned and speaking order,” it said.
The RJs association had also alleged that despite repeated requests to put systems in place, the authorities neither fixed sanctioned strength nor determined the criteria for permanent absorption.
The RJs association has opposed the upcoming auditions saying it was “unnecessary” as the FM stations of AIR here are already “crammed” with RJs and the broadcaster is already “hard pressed” to provide sufficient and adequate duties to each of them.
The association also said its members have been engaged as RJs were from time-to-time for AIR’s new radio channel FM Gold. (PTI)
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