Cabinet clears bill to protect whistleblowers

New Delhi, Aug 9: Amid the global debate over whistleblowers' website, WikiLeaks, the Indian cabinet on Monday, Aug 9, cleared the redrafted Public Interest Disclosure (Protection of Informers) Bill, 2010 to protect whistleblowers.

The bills helps those who make public interest disclosures and ensures that the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has the power it needs to protect whistleblowers from any disciplinary action for exposing corruption in a government department.

The bill proposes three years imprisonment and fine of up to Rs 50,000 against the revelation of the identity of a whistleblower.

The bill took birth from the brutal murder of NHAI engineer Satyendra Dubey, who complained against corruption in the Golden Quadrilateral project.

The bill also gains significance in the backdrop of the storm raised by WikiLeaks after it posted classified information on Afghanistan war on its website leading to questions being raised on how many heads would roll due to this.

OneIndia News