M A I N   N E W S

Bill to protect whistleblowers okayed
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 9
The government today gave its clearance for the proposed legislation to protect whistleblowers and provide for severe punishment to those exposing the identity of people disclosing information. The clearance came at the meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The government also approved a proposal to set up a watchdog for over 3,600 ASI-protected monuments in the country.

According to government officials, the Public Interest Disclosure and Protection to Persons Making the Disclosure Bill, 2010, was given the approval. It provides the Central Vigilance Commission powers of a civil court to hand down harsh penalty to people revealing the identity of whistleblowers.

The Bill, which has provisions to prevent victimisation or disciplinary action against whistleblowers, will cover Central, state and public sector employees. The CVC will be the nodal authority to handle complaints against the state, Central government or PSU employees.

The Bill, which is expected to encourage disclosure of information in public interest, has clauses which provide fine and penalties to people who punish those exposing corruption.

The proposal to set up the National Monument Authority, a provision for which is provided in the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment and Validation) Act, 2010, was also brought before the Cabinet and approved.

The Bill, which replaced an ordinance by the Government in January this year, is aimed at strengthening the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, and was passed in Parliament during the Budget session in April. It will help monitor over 3,600 monuments under the ASI.

The Prime Minister, who also holds the charge of Culture Ministry, was said to have been keen on passing the Bill. As per reports, the National Monument Authority will be headed by a Chairman and have five full-time and as many part-time members. It will ensure strict enforcement of the Act for the 3,675 protected monuments.

The Authority, to be set up at a cost of Rs 100 crore, will have Union Cabinet Secretary as its ex-officio chairman and will ensure that no construction takes place in a minimum area of 200 metres in all directions of the protected site besides the 100 metre prohibited area.