Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday introduced the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025 in the Lok Sabha and referred it to the Select Committee. The Bill provides for amendment of certain Acts to decriminalise and rationalise offences with a view to further enhance trust-based governance to enhance ease of living and doing business.
”(The Bill) be referred to a Select Committee of the Lok Sabha consisting of the Members to be nominated by the Speaker. The terms and conditions regarding the Committee will be decided by the Speaker,” the minister said as he moved the Bill in the Lower House.
He said the committee will submit its report by the first day of the next Parliament session.
Through this Bill, it is proposed to increase the fines and penalties provided under various provisions by 10 per cent of the minimum amount of fine or penalty, as the case may be, after every three years from the date of commencement of the new Bill into an Act.
“The cornerstone of democratic governance lies in the Government trusting its own people and institutions. A web of outdated rules and regulations causes trust deficit. It has been the endeavour of the Government to achieve the principle of ‘Minimum Government Maximum Governance’, redefining the regulatory landscape of the country under the Ease of Living and Ease of Doing Business reforms,” the Statement of Objects and Reasons of the Bill read.
The government argued that reducing compliance burden promotes business process reengineering and helps make people’s lives easier.
“With the advent of technology and changes in the socio-economic scenario, it is essential to unshackle the bygone mindset in this Amritkaal of independent India.”
The Bill states that the fear of imprisonment for minor offences is a major factor hindering the growth of the business ecosystem and individual confidence.
It seeks to decriminalise a large number of minor offences and replace them with monetary penalties.
“The endeavour is not only to make lives and businesses easier but also to reduce judicial burden. Settlement of a large number of issues, by compounding method, adjudication and administrative mechanism, without involving courts, will enable persons to remedy minor contraventions and defaults, sometimes committed unknowingly by them, and save time, energy and resources,” the Statement of Objects and Reasons of the Bill further read.
The Jan Vishwas (Amendments of Provisions) Bill, 2025, is a continuation of the regulatory reforms started under the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023.
Through the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025, apart from decriminalisation, 20 additional provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988 (59 of 1988) and 47 provisions of the New Delhi Municipal Council Act, 1994 (44 of 1994) are proposed to be amended to facilitate Ease of Living, which will serve as a significant step in saving time and cost of all concerned.
With the inputs of ANI
