Centre prepares Bill to protect whistleblowers

The government is ready with a draft Bill, which aims to protect whistleblowers who raise the alarm over corruption in Central government ministries and offices, and agencies or institutions under them. The draft legislation, which is called ‘The Public Interest Disclosure (Protection of Informers) Bill 2010’, is high on the agenda of the Union Cabinet at its meeting here on Thursday.

Sources said the Cabinet, which will meet on Thursday, is likely to consider the proposal of the department of public grievances to enact a law to protect whistleblowers. A source said: “The draft law — The Public Interest Disclosure (Protection of Informers) Bill 2010 — is high on the agenda of the Cabinet meeting to be chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.”

The agenda note says provision will be made in the Bill to make the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) the designated authority to which complaints against any Central government employee or Central government-backed institution can be made by whistleblowers, and adequate protection will be provided.

The Bill, if cleared by the Cabinet and thereafter passed by Parliament, will go a long way in helping those who who make public interest disclosures, sources said.