BJP MLA Mohan Charan Majhi moved a Private Member’s Bill “The Odisha Whistleblowers Protection Bill, 2020” in the State Assembly on Wednesday for discussion. The Bill had been laid in the House on November 25 last.
The Bill is to provide protection to Government employees for disclosure of corruption and misuse of power by any Government employees.
The content of the Bill states that any public servant or any other person, including a non-Government organisation, may make a disclosure in public interest to a competent authority by complaint made in writing or electronic mail against a public servant on matters related to attempt to or commission of an offence under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and willful misuse of power which leads to demonstrable loss to the Government or gain to the public servant.
The Bill has provisions of inquiry by a Commission of Government of Odisha, including the Lokayukta . After conducting the inquiry if the Commission feels that the complaint is frivolous or there is no sufficient ground to proceed further, it shall close the matter.
The Bill includes many provisions like disclosure of corruption by public servant, closure of complaint, power and function of Commission, exemption of inquiry, safeguarding disclosure, punishment and appeal, etc.