Provide more security to whistleblowers and extend RTI to private sector: NGOs

Attending a meeting with the Standing Committee on Law and
Personnel, which is scrutinizing a bill to provide protection to those who help
in unveiling corrupt practices, a group of NGOs demanded more security for
whistleblowers and also asked for extension of the Right to Information Act to
the private sector.

The standing committee assured that it would find ways to strengthen
the Public Interest Disclosure and Protection to Persons Making the Disclosures
Bill, 2010. The bill, moved by the department of personnel and training in Lok Sabha last year, was referred to the panel recently.

The NGOs’ representatives told the panel that the level of
protection to whistleblowers should be enhanced so that more people come out
against corruption. The representatives said that punishment for false or
frivolous complaints was very stringent and it should be relaxed to encourage
people to speak up against wrongdoings.

Clause 16 of the bill provides for punishment for false or
frivolous disclosure, with imprisonment of up to two years and also fine of up to Rs
30,000.

The bill seeks to establish a mechanism to receive
complaints relating to disclosure on any allegation of corruption or willful
misuse of power against public servants, and to enquire into such disclosure and
to provide adequate safeguards against victimization of the whistleblowers.