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The Whistle Blowers Protection Act, 2011 (renamed as Whistle Blowers Protection Act, 2014 later) is a law in India. It helps to check if government officials are doing anything wrong like being corrupt or misusing their power. If someone reports such wrongdoing, the law protects them. It covers things like fraud, corruption, or mismanagement. It also punishes people who make false complaints. Read on to learn more in detail about the Whistle Blowers Protection Act 2011 and the 8 Features of the Whistleblowers Protection Act of 2014.
| Whistle Blowers Protection Act of 2014 | |
| Passed by Lok Sabha | 27th of December, 2011 |
| Passed by Rajya Sabha | 21st of February, 2014 |
| President’s Assent | 9th of May, 2014 |
What is the Whistle Blowers Protection Act 2011?
The Whistle Blowers Protection Act 2011 gives people the power to report wrongdoings of Government bodies and public projects. Additionally, the Act aims to achieve 2 Objectives:
- Encourage Exposures of Corruption: It gives a mechanism for whistleblowers (anyone reporting public servant misconduct) to make disclosures about corruption, misuse of power, or criminal activity.
- Therefore, this helps unearth wrongdoing and promotes transparency in governance.
- Protect Whistleblower Identity: The Act recognises the potential dangers met by whistleblowers and gives them protection from revenge.
- Furthermore, this includes measures to protect their identity, prevent harassment, and guarantee fair treatment by authorities.
Also Read: Section 66A of IT Act of India
The Limitations of the Act
The Whistle Blower Act has been a positive step towards fighting corruption in India. Moreover, it empowers citizens to hold public servants responsible and promotes a culture of transparency. However, some limitations still exist:
- Lack of Anonymity: The mandatory disclosure of identity can discourage some whistleblowers for fear of revenge.
- Implementation Challenges: Effective implementation of the Act needs strong institutional frameworks to guarantee proper investigation and protection.
Also Read: What is 7th Schedule of Indian Constitution?
8 Features of the Whistleblowers Protection Act of 2014
Furthermore, here are the 8 Features of the Whistleblowers Protection Act of 2014:
- The Act helps to keep whistleblowers’ identities safe.
- Whistleblowers are people who reveal corruption.
- Now, those who expose corruption in the government or misconduct by public officials can do so without worrying about being harmed.
- The law is also a way to encourage folks to talk about corruption or when public officials abuse their power, like ministers.
- According to the law, if someone knows about corruption, they can tell the government about it.
- Right now, they can tell the Central Vigilance Commission.
- However, the government can choose another group to hear these complaints too.
- The law says that if someone makes a false or silly complaint, they could go to jail for up to two years and be fined up to ₹30,000.
- The law requires that when someone shares information, they must believe it is true and share a personal statement confirming their belief in its accuracy.
- Information can be shared by writing or email following the set procedure. Moreover, it should include all the necessary details and be supported by relevant documents or materials.
- If the person who complains or the public servant is not identified correctly, nothing will be done about the complaint.
- Lastly, the law does not apply to the Special Protection Group.
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Lastly, we hope you liked our blog and gained an understanding of the Whistleblowers Act. Moreover, you may even read more blogs and empower yourself with knowledge regarding Civics and Polity!