New Delhi, Nov 23: Eminent journalist Nikhil Chakravarty has been appointed as the first chairman of the Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) board.

The three-member selection committee consisting of vice-president Kishan Kant, Press Council chairman PB Sawant and SH Pai Panandikar also appointed former information & broadcasting (I&B) secretary SS Gill as the first chief executive officer (CEO) of the board.

The six part-time board members are B G Verghese, Abid Hussain, U R Rao, A Padmanabhan, Rajendra Yadav and Romila Thapar.

The Prasar Bharati Act came into force on September 15 this year after a prolonged wait for seven years.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.