The Centre on Thursday approved changes to an anti-corruption law that may protect government employees from being investigated by agencies. It has framed an amendment Bill and decided to make it compulsory for bodies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation to seek the government’s approval before they open an inquiry against its staff, PTI reported.

“We have decided to introduce the anti-corruption amendment bill in the upcoming session of the Parliament,” said Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh. ”A provision to safeguard all categories of government employees is being offered...to ensure that honest employees are not harassed.”

However, in cases where a public servant is arrested on the spot for “accepting or attempting to accept any undue advantage”, the CBI and other agencies do not have to seek the Centre’s approval to launch an investigation, the parliamentary committee had said in August while recommending the amendment to the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

The Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha by the United Progressive Alliance government in August 2013. It was approved by the Cabinet in April 2015 and sent to the Select Committee in December 2015 for examination.