Paper: GS-II, Subject: Governance, Topic: Government Policies, Issue: The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025
Context:
The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025, which seeks to decriminalize and rationalize certain offenses and penalties across 16 Central Acts.
Background and Rationale:
- Second Jan Vishwas Legislation: The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025, is the second such bill introduced by the Narendra Modi government.
- The first, enacted in 2023, decriminalized 183 provisions across 42 central acts.
- Expansion of Reform Agenda: The 2025 Bill extends the reform agenda to cover 16 Central Acts administered by 10 ministries/departments.
Objective:
- The primary objective is to enhance trust-based governance, promote ease of living, and improve the ease of doing business in India.
- Overreach of Criminal Law: Research indicates that a significant number of central laws (882), contain criminal provisions for a vast number of crimes (7,305).
- A substantial portion of these crimes are defined under laws regulating areas beyond core criminal justice.
- Criticisms of Overreach: Disproportionate Punishment: Severe punishments are prescribed for minor offenses.
- Arbitrary Power: Criminal provisions, even if rarely enforced, can lead to arbitrary exercise of power by the State.
- Outdated Morality: Many laws reflect outdated notions of morality and an overly paternalistic approach by the State.
- Impact on Business: A 2022 report highlighted that over half of the laws governing business in India contain imprisonment clauses, creating barriers to entrepreneurship, job creation, and economic growth.
- Burden on Legal System: Excessive criminalization contributes to the overburdened legal system, with millions of pending criminal cases in district courts.
- Focus on Serious Offenses: Decriminalizing minor offenses allows the justice system to focus on more serious crimes.
Introduction of “Warning” and Improvement Notice” in New Delhi
The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025, represents a significant step towards decriminalizing minor offenses, rationalizing penalties, and improving the overall legal and business environment in India. Its focus on trust-based governance and ease of living has the potential to reduce the burden on the judicial system, promote economic growth, and foster a more citizen-friendly regulatory landscape.
https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/jan-vishwas-centre-bill-decriminalise-10208238
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