The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023

Key Points:

• The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2023 is a proposed law that wants to change 183 rules in 42 Central laws managed by 19 government departments. 
  • These laws cover areas like the environment, farming, media, industry, trade, technology, copyright, cars, movies, food safety, and more.
• The main goal of this bill is to make minor rule-breaking less serious by replacing criminal punishments with fines or administrative actions. Example: Some punishments in the Patents Act, 1970 and the Railways Act, 1989.
  • It was introduced in Lok Sabha on December 22, 2022, and sent to a Parliamentary committee.

Key features of the bill:

• Replace jail time or fines with penalties in some rules.

• Appoint officers to decide penalties for different departments.
• Allow offenders to settle cases by paying without going to court.
• Increase fines and penalties every three years.
• Remove old and irrelevant laws from 1898.

Potential benefit of the bill

• Reduces the burden on the justice system by making laws less strict.
• Address technical and procedural mistakes without punishing too hard.
• Balance the punishment with the seriousness of the offense.
• Help businesses grow by removing legal obstacles.

Some Concerns Against the bill:

• The Jan Vishwas Bill, which replaces imprisonment with fines, is criticized for ‘quasi-decriminalization’ and raises concerns about the appointment of adjudicating officers.
• Experts say the bill doesn’t fully decriminalize offenses. There is a need for more comprehensive decriminalization. 

Why in the News? 

• The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2023, was passed in the Parliament during the monsoon session to enhance Ease of Living and Ease of Doing Business.