New Delhi: Mr Rajat Sharma, President News Broadcasters Association (NBA) in a press release stated that the NBA has appointed Dr Nazim Zaidi, former Chief Election Commissioner of India, Ms Stuti Kacker, former Chairperson, National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), Ms Zohra Chatterji, former Secretary, Ministry of Textiles and Mr Navtej Sarna former India’s Ambassador to the United States as new members of the News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA) , the independent and autonomous self-regulatory body for member news channels of the NBA. They replace Mr Nitin Desai, Dr S. Y. Quraishi, Ms Leela Ponappa and Ms Vijayalakshmi Chhabra whose terms at the NBSA have ended.
The Chairperson of NBSA is Justice A. K. Sikri, former judge of the Supreme Court of India, who was appointed in May 2019. He succeeded Justice (Retd.) R.V. Raveendran, who completed his term in May 2019.
Dr. Nasim Zaidi, IAS from 1976 batch of the U.P cadre, served as the 20th Chief Election Commissioner of India from 2015 to 2017 after earlier working as Election Commissioner from 2012 to 2015. During his career spanning several years, he has served in increasingly responsible positions in the state of Uttar Pradesh and Government of India (GOI). As a constitutional authority, he brought about several institutional reforms at ECI including introduction of digital technology in several areas such as inclusive voter registration, election monitoring and 100% use of VVPAT with EVMs
Stuti Narain Kacker, IAS from the 1978 batch of the U.P cadre. In 36 years of service she held progressively responsible positions in the State and Centre. She became Secretary to Government of India, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities. As Secretary she established the Department of Disability Affairs, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, GOI and superannuated on 31.12.2014. Thereafter, she was Chairperson, National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), a statutory body of GOI, under the Ministry of Women and Child, Government of India, from 17.9.2015 for 3 years. She is currently Chancellor Swami Vivekanand Subharti University, Meerut, UP.
Zohra Chatterji, IAS from the 1979 batch of the U.P cadre. In July 2014 she retired as Secretary, Ministry of Textiles in the Government of India. She has held several important positions in her home state including Secretary and Director Industries, Labour Commissioner, Secretary & DG Tourism, Secretary & Project Director Basic Education. Her last assignment in UP was Principal Secretary IT & Industries.
Navtej Sarna was India’s Ambassador to the United States till December 2018. He also served as India’s High Commissioner to the UK, Ambassador to the State of Israel and Secretary at the Ministry of External Affairs. He has the distinction of being India’s longest serving foreign office spokesperson, having held that post for six years. He is also an established author of fiction and non-fiction works.
