House panel wants widest ambit for whistleblower law

At a time when the political establishment is facing pressure over greater transparency in public administration, a standing committee of Parliament has recommended inclusion of cabinet ministers, the higher judiciary and all government organisations, including the armed forces, in the Public Interest Disclosure and Protection to Persons Making the Disclosures Bill, 2010.

The standing committee on personnel, public grievances, law and justice has said in its report on the bill that the government “should consider bringing the members of the council of ministers, the judiciary, including the higher judiciary, regulatory authorities, etc, within the ambit of this Bill.”

It also said that it is “not in favour of keeping out the armed forces/intelligence and security agencies from the purview of the Bill. No organisation of Government should be left out from public scrutiny and accountability provided for in the Bill.”

 

The report was given to the Rajya Sabha chairman today. The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 26 last year. According to a press release, “the Bill seeks to establish a mechanism to receive complaints relating to disclosure on any allegation of corruption or willful misuse of power or willful misuse of discretion against any public servant and to inquire or cause an inquiry into such disclosure and to provide adequate safeguards against victimization of the person making such complaint and for matters connected therewith and incidental thereto.”

The Committee has asked for a mechanism to ensure a complainant’s identity is not revealed.