Lok Sabha Passes Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill To Decriminalise Minor Offences In Various Statutes

Today, Lok Sabha passed the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2023. It aims to amend 42 laws administered by 19 ministries.

According to the Bill, It intends to decriminalise and rationalise minor offences to further “enhance trust- based governance for ease of living and doing business.”

The Acts which are proposed to be amended by the Bill includes The Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867, Indian Post Office Act, 1923, The Indian Forest Act, 1927, The Copyright Act, 1957, The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991, and the Information Technology Act, 2000 etc.

The Fine and penalties provided under various provisions in the enactment mentioned in the Schedule of the Bill will be increased by 10% of the minimum amount of fine or penalty, after the expiry of every three years from the date of commencement of the Act (Bill).

It also empowers the central government to appoint one or more Adjudicating Officers for determining penalties.

The Bill omits all the offences under the Indian Post Office Act, 1898 and decriminalises offences under the High Denomination Bank Notes (Demonetisation) Act, 1978.

The Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha in December, 2022 and thereafter referred to the Joint Parliamentary Committee which submitted its report in March, 2023.

Click here to read the Bill