Lok Sabha Passes Jan Vishwas (Amendment Of Provisions) Bill 2023
Lok Sabha, on July 27, successfully passed the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2023, which seeks to make modifications to 42 laws governed by 19 ministries.
The main objective of this legislation is to decriminalises and rationalise minor offenses, with the goal of promoting a governance system built on trust, thereby enhancing ease of living and conducting business.
Among the Acts scheduled for amendment by this Bill are the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867, the Indian Post Office Act, 1923, the Indian Forest Act, 1927, the Copyright Act, 1957, the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991, and the Information Technology Act, 2000, among others.
The proposed changes include an increase of 10 per cent in fines and penalties for various provisions listed in the Bill's schedule, every three years from the Act's commencement date.
Moreover, the Bill grants authority to the central government to appoint one or more Adjudicating Officers to determine penalties. Significantly, all offenses under the Indian Post Office Act, 1898, will be omitted, and the offenses under the High Denomination Bank Notes (Demonetization) Act, 1978, will be decriminalised.
To trace its legislative journey, the Bill was initially introduced in the Lok Sabha in December 2022 and subsequently referred to the Joint Parliamentary Committee, which then submitted its report in March 2023.
