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Act of removing LS TV CEO by caretaker speaker unconstitutional: Mishra
NEW DELHI: Rajiv Mishra, who was removed on 30 May night as Lok Sabha Television’s chief executive officer, has described the move as unconstitutional and an attack on the freedom of the press.
Mishra told indiantelevision.com that senior Congress leader and former Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath had already been appointed as pro-tem speaker and therefore Meira Kumar who was speaker in the fifteenth Lok Sabha had no right to remove him or make any other changes in Lok Sabha TV.
Kumar had removed him with immediate effect without citing any reasons for her action.
In a letter dated 30 May, Mishra was told: “The Speaker has limited the tenure of Rajiv Mishra as chief executive officer of LSTV till 31 May 2014.”
Mishra alleged that his exit could be due to the channel flashing the news of Kumar having lost the Sasaram seat in Bihar’, a seat held by her and earlier by her father Jagjivan Ram for many terms.
“My colleagues told me that ‘Madam’ was angry that the channel ran the flash of her having lost the Sasaram seat,” Mishra said.
Mishra said the action was mala fide as Kumar was only a caretaker Speaker of the lower house till the new house was sworn in.
The sixteenth LS meets from 4 to 12 June during which the new MPs will take oath. The new Speaker is expected to be elected on 6 June.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
