The new law aims to encourage people to disclose information about graft or the wilful misuse of power by government officials
NEW DELHI (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Indian President Pranab Mukherjee has given his assent to a new law which will protect people who expose corruption in the government or irregularities by public servants, the Indian Express has reported.
India's out-going government, led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, has been rocked by a series of graft scandals in the last few years, including a huge scam over the sale of the 2G mobile spectrum, which Time magazine listed as number 2 on its "Top 10 Abuses of Power", behind the U.S. Watergate scandal of the 1970s.
The Whistleblowers Act 2011 provides a mechanism for protecting the identity of whistleblowers and aims to encourage people to disclose information about graft or the wilful misuse of power by government officials, including ministers.
"As per the law, a person can make a public interest disclosure on corruption before a competent authority — which is at present the Central Vigilance Commission," said the report published late on Tuesday.
"The Act, however, lays down punishment of up to two years in prison and a fine of up to 30,000 rupees ($500) for false or frivolous complaints," it added.
India has just completed general elections and the incumbent Congress-led coalition government is expected to lose power partly due to unpopularity due to a series of graft scandals. Results are expected on May 16.
As well as the 2G spectrum scandal, New Delhi's botched hosting of the 2010 Commonwealth Games led to dozens of corruption cases. The government has also been hit by a furore over the allocation of coal deposits now known as "Coalgate".
A Lowy Institute poll of Indians in May last year found that 92 percent thought corruption had increased over the past five years, and even more believed that reducing corruption should be a top priority for their government.
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