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Friday, February 21, 2014

Whistleblowers Protection Bill Passed in Rajya Sabha Friday Feb 21,2014

A bill to provide for setting up a regular mechanism to encourage persons to disclose information on corruption or wilful misuse of power by public servants, including ministers, was passed by Rajya Sabha on Friday Feb 21,2014

The Whistleblowers' Protection Bill also 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 measures set out the procedure to inquire into the disclosures and provides adequate safeguards against victimisation of the whistleblower, it also seeks to provide punishment for false or frivolous complaints.

 Minister of State for Personnel V. Narayanasamy said the legislation would supplement the RTI Act in checking corruption in the country

The bill was passed by Lok Sabha in 2011 and was taken up by the Upper House in 2012 for consideration. However, it could not be passed because of the death of Union Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh.

Anti-corruption activists have been campaigning for the Bill for many years now, but despite both the Congress and BJP promising to pass the Bill, it was kept hanging for two years.   



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