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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.
