Tweak in whistle-blower law not on agenda: Govt

BILL THAT WAS KEY TO MAKING 2014 LAW OPERATIONAL LAPSED IN 2019, NO PLANS TO BRING IT IN THIS SESSION, MINISTER SAYS

- Aditi Agrawal

A law designed to protect citizens who expose corruption remains unenacted nearly a decade after Parliament passed it, with the minister of state for personnel, public grievances and pensions, Jitendra Singh, telling the Lok Sabha on Wednesday that amendments to the law are not part of the current session's agenda.

The Whistle Blowers Protection Act, 2014, which Parliament passed in February that year under the UPA II regime, enables any person to report corruption, wilful misuse of power, or criminal offences by public servants, including ministers, MPs, judges, regulatory authorities and government employees. Under the law, these complaints would be handled by a designated authority who must conduct discreet inquiries while protecting the identities of complainants.

However, the law was never implemented. In December 2014, Singh explained to the Rajya Sabha that crucial amendments "aimed at safeguarding against disclosures affecting sovereignty and integrity of India, security of the State" couldn't be moved as the bill was taken up on the last day of the 15th Lok Sabha.