New Delhi:
More security for whistle-blowers and extending the jurisdiction of the Act to the private sector were some of the suggestions made by NGOs and individuals today at a meeting of a Parliamentary panel scrutinising a bill to provide protection to those who blow the lid off corrupt practices.
The Standing Committee on Law and Personnel today heard submissions made by NGOs and individuals 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 the Lok Sabha last year, was referred to the panel.
Those who submitted their views before the Committee stressed that the level of protection to whistle blowers should be enhanced so that more people come out against corruption.
There was an overwhelming view that the jurisdiction of the proposed legislation should be extended to the private sector and corruption was equally rampant there and there was a need to curb it.
Some of the people were of the view that punishment for false or frivolous complaints was very stringent and it should be relaxed to encourage people to speak up against wrong doings.
The meeting was presided over by Congress MP Shantaram Naik as Committee Chairperson Jayanti Natarajan was away.
Clause 16 of the Bill provides for punishment for false or frivolous disclosure with imprisonment up to two years and also fine up to Rs 30,000.
The Bill seeks to establish a mechanism to receive complaints relating to disclosure on any allegation of corruption or wilful misuse of power against public servants and to inquire into such disclosure and to provide adequate safeguards against victimisation of the whistle-blower.