Lok Sabha passes Jan Vishwas (Amendment) Bill 2023: Decriminalised 42 Laws

Lok Sabha passed Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill 2023 on 27th July 2023 which proposes to decriminalize 183 provisions in 42 Central Law including over half a dozen colonial era laws. According to the Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal the bill will promote the Ease of Doing Business in the country.

The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill 2022, was introduced in Lok Sabha on 22 December, 2022. The Bill, referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee headed by Mr. P.P. Chaudhary submitted its report on 17 March 2023.

 Key Highlights of Bill

• Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill covers the Boilers Act, the Aadhar Act, 2016, the Legal Metrology Act, 2009, the Collection of Statistics Act, the Government Securities Act, 2006, and the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006,  the Indian Post Office Act, 1898, the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991, and the Information Technology Act, 2000 among others.

• It also removes imprisonment as a punishment for many offences. All offences under the Post Office Act, 1898 are being removed.

• Fines and penalties will be increased by 10% of the minimum amount every three years.

• The Bill amends some Acts to provide for the appointment of Adjudicating Officers to decide penalties. It also specifies the appellate mechanism.

Procedure of Legislative Bill to become an Act

• A Bill is the draft of a legislative proposal which has to pass through various stages like first reading, Publication In Gazette, Reference of the Bill to the Standing Committee, Second Reading, Third Reading. 

• After passing from one House either Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha Bill again passed from all the same stages in the second House and presented before the President for assent. Only after getting the assent of the President, then the bill becomes an Act. The Act is effective from the date it is notified by the President.

• Types of a Bill: Ordinary Bill, Money Bill, Finance Bill, Constitutional Amendment Bill.