Times of India: New
Delhi: Saturday, April 20, 2013.
With over 16
activists killed and thousands under attack or threatened, RTI activists have
demanded a stronger whistleblower law, including provisions for accountability
and compensation for victims. The Whistleblowers Protection Bill is likely to
come up in Parliament in the budget session starting next week.
But activists
feel that the Bill in its present form is not strong enough to prevent deaths.
National Campaign for People's Right to Information (NCPRI) have sought making
Section 4 of the RTI Act that calls for proactive disclosure of information mandatory,
besides ensuring that there is accountability under the whistleblower's Bill.
Speaking on
the need for a strong law, National Commission for Minorities chairman Wajahat
Habibullah said that there was no accountability under the whistleblower's
Bill. "We have seen in cases that people have gone and complained right up
to the PM but there is no action. Officials must be held accountable," he
said. He was supported by NCPRI members, including Aruna Roy, Nikhil Dey and
Anjali Bharadwaj.
The NCPRI has
also demanded that the definition of victimization should be broadened to
include not just threat to physical life and liberty.
The activists
felt that the law must stipulate a clear timeframe no more than 45 days within
which the discreet inquiry by the authority must be completed to prevent
inordinate delays. The recommendations, which came after a day-long tribunal
where whistleblowers and their families presented their testimonials, include
people who are providing information through documents and other material to
the whistleblower must also be protected.
The NCPRI has
demanded that the Bill should provide for acting upon anonymous complaints if
it is accompanied with adequate supporting documents which reveal a prima-facie
case.
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