(a) whether the Whistleblowers Protection Act, 2011 has not been implemented in terms of appointing a nodal officer in each Ministry to look into complaints of corruption received from Whistleblowers;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the status of implementation of the Act;
(c) the number of complaints registered by the Whistleblowers since the enactment of the Act; and
(d) the details of the status of such complaints?
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) & (b): The Whistle Blowers Protection Bill, 2011 was passed by the Lok Sabha on the 27th of December, 2011 and was transmitted to the Rajya Sabha. Subsequently, it was noticed that some of the provisions in the Bill needed a relook with a view to strengthening the safeguards against disclosures which may prejudicially affect the sovereignty and integrity of the country, security of the State, etc. Accordingly, notices for certain official amendments were given to Rajya Sabha Secretariat from time to time. The Bill was finally taken up for consideration and passing on 21st February, 2014. However, as the Bill was taken up on the last day of the last Session of the 15th Lok Sabha, the official amendments which had been given notice of, were not moved during consideration and passing of the Bill on the said date. The Bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha without any amendments (i.e., in the same form as passed by the Lok Sabha) on 21st February, 2014. The Bill has received the assent of the President on 9th May, 2014 and has become the Whistle Blowers Protection Act, 2011 (No. 17 of 2014). In view of this, the Whistle Blowers Protection Act, 2011 requires some amendments (aimed at safeguarding against disclosures affecting sovereignty and integrity of India, Security of the State, etc), before it is brought into force. No time frame can be indicated for the legislative process of making amendments to the Act.
(c) and (d): Since the Whistleblowers Protection Act, 2011 has not been brought into force, no complaints have been registered under the Act.