RTI for citizens Right to Information: [rti_india] Amendments to RTI Act to — judiciary and some exempted departments could be brought under purview

Bill to protect whistleblowers soon

Proposed Legislation Put On Fast Track, May Come Up In Budget Session

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New Delhi: Intending to bring a legislation to protect whistleblowers in the forthcoming Budget session of Parliament, the government has set up an empowered group of ministers (EGoM), headed by defence minister A K Antony, to put the process of framing the relevant Bill on fast track.

Minister of state for personnel and public grievance Prithviraj Chavan on Friday said the EGoM would examine and finalise all relevant issues to be incorporated in the proposed Bill. "The Public Interest Disclosure and Protection of Informers Bill may be tabled in the later part of the Budget session," he said, hinting that the legislation would broadly be in tune with the whistleblowers resolution passed five years ago.

The resolution was passed by way of an office order in 2004 in response to the Supreme Court directive in the engineer Satyendra Dubey case. Dubey had blown the whistle on irregularities in the execution of contracts awarded by National Highways Authority of India in Bihar and paid with his life since there was no mechanism in place to protect those who made complaints against corruption in government departments.

The resolution had empowered the CVC to deal with corruption complaints, protect informers' identities and direct agencies like CBI to initiate suitable action.

Asked about other Bills, Chavan said there was no immediate plan to introduce the Lok Pal Bill, aimed at probing corruption in high places including that of the office of PM, as there was no political consensus. "A decision has to be taken at political level. But there is no political consensus. Without political consensus, the Bill cannot be passed in Parliament," he said.

Chavan said the government was working on Civil Services Performance Standards and Accountability Bill and was planning to introduce it in Parliament as soon as it is finalised. "An inter-ministerial group has been constituted. Discussions are going on," he said.

On amendment to Right to Information Act, he said government was working on the amendment but it would take some time before its introduction in Parliament. "We feel that there is a need to amend the RTI Act on two counts — its further strengthening and removing legal lacuna," he said.
Asked to elaborate, Chavan said internal debate within the government was going on whether some departments and judiciary, which were exempted from the purview of the RTI Act, should be brought under it.

The minister also said the government was framing a law — Nuclear Liability Bill — that provides for a cap of Rs 2,500 crore by way of damages in case of nuclear accident and under which government will facilitate compensation through Nuclear Power Corporation of India.

"The law is to give guarantee of compensation in case of a tragedy like the 1984 Bhopal gas disaster," he said, adding the proposed law has no link with the Indo-US nuclear deal but it was needed as India gave commitment to the international community in this effect.

IN THE WORKS

Civil Services Performance Standards and Accountability Bill could be introduced in Parliament soon

Amendments to RTI Act to — judiciary and some exempted departments could be brought under purview

Nuclear Liability Bill that provides for a cap of Rs 2,500 crore by way of damages in case of nuclear accident. Will guarantee compensation in case of a tragedy like Bhopal gas disaster

Lok Pal Bill, 1996 had been introduced in Parliament several times, but still awaits approval of both Houses of Parliament