Bill in Rajya Sabha to protect whistle blowers

New Delhi: A bill for setting up a regular mechanism to encourage persons to disclose information on corruption or willful misuse of power by public servants, including ministers, was moved in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.

The Whistle-blowers' Protection Bill, 2011, already approved by the Lok Sabha, was moved by Minister of State in PMO V Narayansamy with a small amendment under which matters impacting national security, sovereignty and integrity of the country have been kept out of the ambit of the bill.

Narayansamy said matters related to corruption and human rights violations in the defence forces and intelligence agencies would also be covered by the bill. The Special Protection Group has been exempted from the Bill in view of the sensitive security matters.

The Whistle-blowers\' Protection Bill, 2011, already approved by the Lok Sabha, was moved by Minister of State in PMO V Narayansamy.

He said the Bill aims to provide security to whistle blowers, a number of whom including Satyendra Dubey have been harassed.

The minister said the bill also provides for punishment for disclosing the identity of the whistle blower.

The Bill seeks to provide "adequate protection to persons reporting corruption or wilful misuse of discretion which causes demonstrable loss to the government or commission of a criminal offence by a public servant."

While the measure sets out the procedure to inquire into the disclosures and provides adequate safeguards against victimisation of the whistle-blower, it also seeks to provide punishment for false or frivolous complaints.

Narayansamy said as per the provisions of the Bill, before closing any complaint of corruption, the competent authority will have to discuss the matter with the complainant.

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