Observing that
whistleblowers exposing corruption is a global phenomenon and a reality
in the country , the Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Centre to
put in place an administrative mechanism for their protection as they
face threats and harassment for bringing to light irregularities in
government departments. With Whistleblowers Protection law still
pending in Parliament for years and in the absence of any effective
administrative set-up to deal with the issue, a bench of Chief Justice T
S Thakur and Justices A K Sikri and R Banumathi said there was
“absolute vacuum“ which
could not be allowed to go on.
Hailing the role played by whistleblowers in exposing corruption, the bench said the government could not turn a blind eye to the need for their protection and directed the Centre to spell out within a week the steps it intended to take for their protection.
“Take a firm stand on the time-frame within which you will bring administrative set up to protect whistleblowers.This is part of the evolution of system to meet the need of people. The concept of whistleblower is a global phenomenon and has become a reality. They will be there and the government cannot wish it away ,“ the bench said.
Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi told the bench that the bill has been passed in Lok Sabha and is pending in Rajya Sabha. But the bench reminded the Centre that the court had earlier directed it to set up administrative mechanism for whistleblowers' protection, which must be complied with.
It granted a week's time to the AG to take instructions from the Centre on the timeframe within which the government would put in place the mechanism.
Hailing the role played by whistleblowers in exposing corruption, the bench said the government could not turn a blind eye to the need for their protection and directed the Centre to spell out within a week the steps it intended to take for their protection.
“Take a firm stand on the time-frame within which you will bring administrative set up to protect whistleblowers.This is part of the evolution of system to meet the need of people. The concept of whistleblower is a global phenomenon and has become a reality. They will be there and the government cannot wish it away ,“ the bench said.
Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi told the bench that the bill has been passed in Lok Sabha and is pending in Rajya Sabha. But the bench reminded the Centre that the court had earlier directed it to set up administrative mechanism for whistleblowers' protection, which must be complied with.
It granted a week's time to the AG to take instructions from the Centre on the timeframe within which the government would put in place the mechanism.
Source:- Times Of India, 07-Jan-2016
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