Citizen Direct at India Together: A forum for whistleblowers

(Source Arvind, Parivartan)

Satyendra Dubey was a whistleblower, who had to die, because he dared to expose corruption taking place in the Department in which he was working.

There are a large number of government officers like Dubey, who have information on corruption going on in their departments. In a number of cases, they are also in possession of evidence, which would establish corruption beyond doubt. However, most of these officials do not complain about it or report such corrupt practices because they do not have faith that the existing government mechanisms would take their cases to logical end. They also fear professional and physical victimization.

However, they may report such cases to a forum, in which they had confidence and which would make sincere efforts to pressurize government machinery to act upon such complaints. It is to provide such a credible platform to whistleblowers that a group of eminent and concerned citizens have come together as Citizens Forum Against Corruption (CFAC).

Though the government of India has now empowered the CVC to entertain complaints from whistle blowers and provide protection to them, there is still a strong need for civil society initiative to inspire confidence amongst the potential whistle blowers to come out and report corruption.

CFAC has on its panel, citizens with integrity, credibility and independence so as to inspire that confidence. The panel consists of retired judges, advocates, activists, retired police officers, retired civil servants and eminent members from various sections of society. A list containing names of the panelists is enclosed.

Methodology:

CFAC invites cases of corruption from whistleblowers, who have information and evidence and who would like to report such a case or who have already reported such cases but have not received adequate response from the government so far.

A working group of the panel would scrutinize the evidence provided by the whistleblower and prepare a summary document of his case. Summary documents of all the cases received between successive meetings of the panel will be presented to the panel in next meeting. The panel will decide for each case, whether a prima facie case of corruption is made out or not. CFAC will take up only those cases which have a serious impact on public interest, where significant amounts or illegality is involved, or which involve high offices held by the person’s involved and also those cases revealing gross systemic deficiencies.

For each case that the panel decides to take up, the panel would first write to concerned department, CVC, CBI and other investigative agencies to inquire and to take adequate action. If this forum does not receive adequate response, or if the forum feels that the action taken by department or vigilance is improper or insufficient, then the forum may decide to make the matter public by highlighting the inadequacy of action taken by concerned department or vigilance agency in light of evidence available. As a last resort, this forum may decide to take the case to court.

For any further details on this Forum or to highlight any case of corruption, you may please contact Naveen at the following address.

Contact Details:

Naveen, C- 67, Sec 14, NOIDA.

Email: [email removed]

Please forward this mail to as many people as possible.

Post your comment below, or View Existing Comments (0)

---

Post a comment

Note: Your post will appear within 24 hours unless found inappropriate (spam, netabuse). See policy

Name:

Email Address:

URL:

Remember personal info? YesNo Comments:

Note: Your post will appear within 24 hours unless found inappropriate (spam, netabuse). See policy

---

EXISTING COMMENTS

Post your comment