-The Times of India The National Advisory Council (NAC) on Friday approved mandatory public consultation on new laws and rules before they are brought to Parliament. This will for the first time provide an institutional structure for civil society representatives to express their views. The "pre-legislative process'' was brought in the wake of increasing dissatisfaction over legislations piloted by the government, especially the Lokpal Bill. The move was initiated by NAC...

-The Times of India 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...

-The Hindustan Times A civil society group on Friday demanded key changes in the bill to protect Whistleblowers, including widening its scope to bring all categories of public servants and private sector employees under its purview. The National Campaign for People's Right to Information, after day-long consultations with the families of some of the Whistleblowers, asked the government to make the definition of victimisation clear in the bill. The Whistleblowers Protection Bill was...

-Live Mint The NCPRI has also suggested a list of amendments to the Bill, including a clearer definition of victimization The activist group National Campaign for People's Right to Information (NCPRI) has demanded that the Whistleblowers Protection Bill, 2011, be discussed and approved by Parliament in the budget session that resumes on Monday. The NCPRI has also suggested a list of amendments to the Bill, including a clearer definition of victimization, protection...

-One World South Asia A peoples’ assembly held in New Delhi, became a forum for voicing concern of people attached to movements, for accountability in public life. The five day people’s assembly (Jan Sansad) entered its second day at Jantar Mantar, with over 700 people from all over the country assembling in New Delhi. The day coincided with the ninth death anniversary of Satyendra Dubey, the former Project Director of the National Highway...