Question : Whistleblowers Act

(a) the time by which the Government intends to bring the Whistleblowers Act, 2011 into force;
(b) whether the Act does not provide any incentive to disclose any information under the private sectors;
(c) if so, the details thereof and the steps being taken by the Government to afford similar protection to whistleblowers in the private sector;
(d) whether the Government is taking any step towards including ‘anonymous disclosures’ under the purview of the Act; and
(e) if so, the details thereof and 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): The Whistle Blowers Protection Act, 2011 (No. 17 of 2014) has been notified on 12th May, 2014. In terms of section 1(3) of the Act, the provisions of the Act shall come into force only on such date, as the Central Government may notify. The said Act 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. 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 has been passed by the Lok Sabha on 13th May, 2015 and the said Bill is presently before the Rajya Sabha. Thus, the matter is presently under the domain of the legislature.

(b): The Act does not provide any incentive to disclose any information under the private sectors.

(c): Does not arise.
(d) & (e): No, Madam.

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