But several MPs questioned the grounds for the Bill during a discussion on the statutory resolution moved by Samajwadi Party MP Mohan Singh against the ordinance. “I do not see the need for an ordinance to increase or decrease the ages of chairman and executive members,” Singh said, kicking off the debate.

Questioning the “wisdom of bringing in so many ordinances”, Shiv Sena MP Suresh Prabhu asked the Government to explain the urgency that led them to move it. “It looks as if the ordinance was issued to get rid of one person,” Prabhu said.

BJP MP Rasa Singh Rawat saw a “mala fide intention” in the move, and said it was similar to the one relating to the removal of AIIMS Director Dr P Venugopal. “The Government has issued an ordinance for such a small matter?” he said.

For once, the CPI(M) and BJP spoke in the same voice, with CPI(M) MP Varkala Radhakrishnan accusing the UPA Government of making the House a rubber stamp of the executive”.

Dasmunsi however reiterated that the Government move was not about “one man”. “In August 2008, we have the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, for which the Prasar Bharati has been chosen as the dedicated host broadcaster. With all regards to the current incumbents, we felt that you cannot get a professional and competent CEO if you seal his age limit at 62 years,” the minister said, trying to explain the Bill.

Dasmunsi added that after studying examples the world over, he had concluded that competent CEOs were in the age group of 65 years.