The Union Cabinet approves a new Bill to protect whistle-blowers, but there is concern whether its provisions will amount to much. ON March 22, a special court in Patna pronounced three persons guilty in the murder of Satyendra K. Dubey, a civil engineer from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur. He was shot dead on November 29, 2003, for blowing the whistle on corrupt practices in the Golden Quadrilateral Project in Bihar....

The government on Thursday introduced a legislation that would protect whistleblowers and provide severe punishment to those who expose the identity of, or try to victimise, such people. The Public Interest Disclosure and Protection to Persons Making the Disclosures Bill, 2010 also provides for setting up a regular mechanism to encourage disclosure of information on corruption or wilful misuse of power by public servants, which cause “demonstrable losses” to the government. The...

Faced with allegations of illegal mining in at least seven states, the government has proposed an independent regulatory authority with powers to investigate and prosecute those indulging in such activities. The proposed National Mining Regulatory Authority (NMRA) will replace the Indian Bureau of Mines, the current regulatory body, which according to the law ministry has not been effective. The NMRA is set to be given sweeping powers, including rejection of orders passed by...

Halted by the government from mining bauxite in Niyamgiri in Orissa for the $1.7 billion aluminium project, Vedanata Resources on Tuesday said it has not violated any law and would look for alternate sources of the mineral. "Vedanta Resources Plc reconfirms that there has been no regulatory violations of any kind at the Lanjigarh Alumina refinery. We are not in possession of Niyamgiri mines and no mining activity will be undertaken...

Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee's prolonged absence from her ministry has cost the exchequer more than Rs 11 lakh over a one-year period. Expenses for travel of five officials between Delhi and Kolkata to meet Mamata for clearing files have cost the Railways Rs 11,23,550. The officials in question are Officer on Special Duty to Railway Minister Gautam Sanyal, Private Secretary Santanu Basu, Executive Director (Public Grievance) J K Saha, Additional PS S...