Jan Vishwas: Parliament has passed the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill,2023 with Rajya Sabha approving it today. Lok Sabha has already passed the Bill. The Bill seeks to amend certain enactments for decriminalising and rationalising offences to further enhance trust-based governance for ease of living and doing business.
The legislation proposes to amend 183 provisions to be decriminalized in 42 Central Acts administered by 19 Ministries and Departments. It aims at giving a further boost to Ease of Living and Ease of Doing Business. The Amendment Bill will contribute to rationalizing criminal provisions and ensuring that citizens, businesses and government departments operate without fear of imprisonment for minor, technical or procedural defaults.
This Bill establishes a balance between the severity of the offence or violation committed and the gravity of the prescribed punishment. Decriminalization of provisions which affect citizens and certain categories of government employees will help them live without the fear of imprisonment for minor violations.
Replying to a debate on the Bill, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal appreciated the members of the Joint Committee for presenting a very good report on this Bill. He informed that as per the recommendation of the Committee, a working group has been constituted which will further look into decriminalising and rationalizing offences related to certain enactments.
The group comprises members and experts from twenty-two categories including from Niti Aayog, RBI, NABARD and Central Pollution Control Board. Mr Goyal also informed that the government has set up a National Single Window system in the direction of ease of doing business. The Minister said that the Bill was in the interest of the common man of the country.
Initiating the debate on the Bill, Sujeet Kumar of BJD said it is a forward-looking legislation and its objective is to boost ease of doing business, ease of living for the common citizen of the country and to reduce the burden on courts.
Masthan Rao Beeda of YSRCP supported the Bill and said that it is a step in the right direction and certainly helps India in improving the ease of living for the people as well as ease of doing business rankings. V Vijaysai Reddy of YSRCP, Dr K Laxman, G V L Narasimha Rao and Dr Sikander Kumar of BJP were among those who participated in the discussion.
