While the I&B Ministry said the communication between the two bodies was in “possession of the FTII” and could be obtained from there, FTII refused to part with the communication, arguing that its disclosure may “prejudice the appointment itself”. While the I&B Ministry said the communication between the two bodies was in “possession of the FTII” and could be obtained from there, FTII refused to part with the communication, arguing that its disclosure may “prejudice the appointment itself”.

The Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) has been functioning headless for the last six months, since the tenure of its former Chairman Gajendra Chauhan ended on March 3 this year. The FTII Society is responsible for electing the Governing Council and the Academic Council, which then takes decision on important matters pertaining to the administrative and academic matters concerning the institute.

Chauhan was appointed to the post in June 2015, for three years, with retrospective effect from March 2014. However, following vociferous protests against him by the students, he could assume office only in January 2016, thereby getting only a 15-month tenure.

Meanwhile, officials at both the FTII and the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry have been tight lipped about when the appointment will happen and who all were being considered for the post. Both the offices have also refused to share information or communication about reconstitution of the FTII Society, when asked under the Right to Information Act.

While the I&B Ministry said the communication between the two bodies over the issue was in “possession of the FTII” and could be obtained from there, the FTII refused to part with the communication, arguing that its disclosure may “prejudice the appointment itself”.

Disposing off an appeal filed in this regard, FTII Registrar Varun Bhardwaj said, “FTII is not authorised to disclose the relevant proposal, as it is under submission to the ministry. In any case, disclosing information at this stage is reasonably likely to prejudice the appointment process itself. Secondly, the sought information also includes personal information which would cause unwarranted invasion of privacy of individuals at this stage.”

Sources privy to the information said the ministry doesn’t seem eager to reconstitute the society, as running the institute directly via a bureaucrat was much convenient than “inviting trouble”, like it did in 2015 by appointing the society members and a chairman with relatively lesser control over their functioning due to the autonomy enjoyed by the FTII Society.

An insider, requesting anonymity, said, “I think the I&B Ministry is finding the present arrangement much comfortable and would want to it continue as long as possible.” This arrangement, however, can’t go on for long, as the FTII ought to have a Governing Council, Academic Council and Standing Finance Committee for implementing every major administrative, academic and financial decision, added the source. Members and office bearers to all the three bodies are elected from an incumbent FTII Society.

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