Pass whistle blower, grievance redressal bills: NCPRI

The Lokpal bill is incomplete without the whistle blowers' and grievance redressal bills. These two bills should also be passed soon, civil society group NCPRI said Thursday.

National Campaign for People's Right to Information (NCPRI) said the government should reconvene the winter session of parliament and pass these bills.

"The Lokpal will be important to address high level corruption for which we earlier did not have a legislative framework, but it will be a half-measure if the other legislations are not brought in," activist Aruna Roy said.

The Lokpal bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha Tuesday and the Lok Sabha Wednesday just before parliament was adjourned sine die.

Roy also said that there was a general consensus on the other two bills.

"They could have passed the bills in this session itself, there is a consensus on these bills," she said.

NCPRI member Nikhil Dey, meanwhile, said that no one law can ensure that corruption is completely eradicated and there is complete accountability.

"The experience with the RTI act has shown that it will require ongoing engagement to ensure that the bill is implemented properly and effectively," Dey said.

The demand comes against the backdrop of Right To Information activist Anoop Singh being kidnapped and tortured in Dankaur town of Gautam Budh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh.

The whistle blowers' protection bill seeks to establish a mechanism to register complaints on any allegations of corruption or wilful misuse of power against a public servant. The bill also provides safeguards against victimisation of the person who makes the complaint.

The grievance redressal bill, meanwhile, seeks to create a mechanism to ensure timely delivery of goods and services to citizens.

As per this bill, every public authority is required to publish a citizens' charter within six months of the commencement of the act. The charter will detail the goods and services to be provided and the timelines for their delivery.