Whistleblowing is the decision taken by an employee to report illegal or immoral practices of higher authorities or even peers, to the police or media, or persons, or to the organizations that may be able to effect appropriate corrective action. Whistleblowing is important as it often contributes to improvement in internal control systems and is a solution to organizational problems. This article examines the concept, the do's and don'ts, and the prospects and consequences of whistleblowing. Some individual cases both, from within the country and abroad, have been studied to support and substantiate the need for legal protection to whistleblowers.

An employee blows the whistle when he tells his employer, the police or the media about a dangerous or illegal activity taking place in the organization. Whistleblowing occurs when an employee discloses an employer's illegal, immoral, or illegitimate practices to persons or organizations that can take corrective action.

Whistleblowers have usually been treated as outcasts by employers. However, legal, ethical and practical considerations increasingly compel companies to encourage employees to disclose suspected illegal and unethical activities through internal communication channels.

Whistleblowers provide an early warning system that can alert their colleagues, employers or the public to the danger or illegality involved, before it is too late. They are employees who have greater degree of affinity towards the society. Unfortunately, there are still some people who believe that "whistleblowing" is a wrongful activity and don't realize how whistleblowing can save lives, jobs, money and reputations. Nowadays, more and more people have begun to realize how invaluable and responsible whistleblowing could be. There are internal whistleblowers and external whistleblowers. Internal whistleblowers report misconduct to a peer or superior within their organization, whereas external whistleblowers report the misconduct to the media or any other outside persons.

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