Haryana government sets landmark by providing protection to RTI activists
11 Oct, 2012The Haryana government has passed a notification which defines a whistleblower. The notification states that a person who raises voice against corruption in any public office or about an attempt to commit or commission of an offence under Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 is a whistleblower. The government has also framed a policy which provides security to whistleblowers and RTI activists facing threat for trying to curb the corruption. As per this policy whistleblowers or RTI activists can give an application to the concerned police commissioner or superintendent of police and ask for security. They will then put up his request to the district level committee who in turn will assess it and provide the security cover to the applicants within a week. The quantum and type of security will be decided by the concerned superintendent of police. The concerned authorities will have to review the threat perception at regular intervals and accordingly the security given to the whistleblowers may be increased, decreased or withdrawn. Review shall also be done to prevent the misuse of security provided and in case of any misuse remedial action will be taken which may include recovery of cost and legal action.