Details on the Whistleblowers Bill which was given the nod in Parliament yesterday. All intelligence agencies to come under the Bill, agencies like IB and RAW. They have been included despite reservations by the Home Ministry.

Whistleblowers Bill Officially called the Public Interest Disclosure and Protection to Persons Making the Disclosures Bill, it provides safeguards to whistleblowers who complain against corruption or misuse of authority in the government.

The bill makes it binding on heads of departments and other authorities to keep secret the identity of a whistleblower. Anyone revealing the identity of a whistleblower can be punished with jail term of three years as well as fine of Rs 50,000. Anyone trying to misuse the whistleblower protection by making false disclosures can be punished with a two-year jail term.

The bill covers employees of the Centre and state governments as well as any government company or societies where government has administrative control. As of now, the Central Vigilance Commission is empowered by a government resolution (No 89 of April 21, 2004) as the designated authority to receive complaints from whistleblowers.