(a) whether the Whistleblowers Protection Act, 2014 has not been implemented so far;
(b) if so, the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the Government of India is planning to re-introduce the Whistleblowers Protection Act, 2014;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) if not, the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE
(DR. JITENDRA SINGH)
(a) to (e): The Whistle Blowers Protection Act, 2014 (No. 17 of 2014) has been notified on 12th May, 2014. In terms of provision of sub-section (3) of section 1 of the Act, the provisions of the Act shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint. No such notification has been made by the Government for the reason that the Act requires amendments aimed at safeguarding against disclosures affecting sovereignty and integrity of India, Security of the State, etc., before it is brought into force. To make these amendments to the Act, the Government introduced the Whistle Blowers Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2015 in the Lok Sabha on 11th May, 2015 which was passed by the Lok Sabha on 13th May, 2015 and transmitted to the Rajya Sabha. The Bill has since lapsed upon the dissolution of the Sixteenth Lok Sabha.
The Whistle Blowers Protection(Amendment) Bill is not part of the approved Government legislative business of the current session of the Parliament.
*****