The government is set to move an amendment bill in Parliament during the current session itself.
The government on Wednesday approved amendments to the Whistleblowers Protection Act, 2011, to keep issues of national security out of its purview.
After the Union Cabinet nod, the government is set to move an amendment bill in Parliament during the current session itself. In a statement, the government said: “This is being done with a view to incorporate necessary provisions aimed at strengthening safeguards against disclosures which may prejudicially affect the sovereignty and integrity of the country and security of the State.”
“Safeguard have also been provided in respect of such disclosures which have been exempted under section 8(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005,” the government said.
In order to give statutory protection to whistleblowers in the country, the Public Interest Disclosures and Protection to Persons making the Disclosures Bill, 2011 was introduced in Lok Sabha in August, 2010. However, in December 2011, it was passed as the Whistleblowers Protection Bill, 2011.
Rajya Sabha had passed it on February 21 last year. It had received the assent of the President on May 9 the same year.