The Personal Data Protection Bill, which proposes to put restriction on the use of personal data without the explicit consent of citizens, is likely to be tabled in next year’s Budget session of Parliament, according to a source.

The draft of the bill, approved by the cabinet in December 2019, proposes a penalty of up to Rs 15 crore and up to three-year jail term for company executives for violating privacy norms.

“The time for the joint committee on the Personal Data Protection Bill has been extended to the second week of the winter session. The final bill is expected to be tabled in Parliament in the Budget session after incorporating the suggestions,” the source said.

The bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha in February and has been referred to a joint parliamentary committee of both the Houses, headed by BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi, for examination and report.

The draft approved by the cabinet in December mandates storage of critical data of individuals by internet companies within the country while sensitive data can be transferred overseas only after explicit consent of the data owner.

The bill has been drafted following a Supreme Court judgment in August 2017 that declared “Right to Privacy” a fundamental right. The need for a strong personal data protection regime was further highlighted by the apex court in September 2018 when it struck down some provisions in the Aadhaar Act.