Jan Vishwas 2.0: Govt Seeks To Decriminalise 300-400 Provisions Across Laws

New Delhi, Dec 15 (KNN) Ministries and departments are stepping up efforts to decriminalise around 300-400 provisions across various laws as part of the government’s push to replace jail terms for minor offences with monetary penalties and enable faster, non-litigious compliance.

The objective is to reduce criminal liability for procedural or minor violations and make the regulatory environment more business-friendly.

Jan Vishwas 2 Bill Under Parliamentary Scrutiny

The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill 2.0, introduced earlier this year, seeks to decriminalise 288 provisions across multiple laws. The Bill has been referred to a Select Committee of Parliament, which is currently examining the proposed changes, reported TOI.

The ministries are in the process of suggesting further amendments to the committee. Inputs are also being consolidated from a high-level committee chaired by a former Cabinet Secretary, whose recommendations will be shared with the parliamentary panel.

Road Transport Laws See Major Changes

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has reportedly identified over a dozen additional provisions under the Motor Vehicles Act and the National Highways Act for decriminalisation, over and above the 50-plus provisions already included in Jan Vishwas Bill 2.0.

Proposed changes include replacing jail terms for withholding or providing false information with penalties ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 2,000. 

Similarly, offences such as a driver failing to provide medical aid or accident details may attract penalties of Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 instead of imprisonment.

For hit-and-run cases, the fine may be placed at a higher monetary penalty of Rs 1 lakh. Similarly, the offence of intentionally damaging a national highway stretch, is proposed to include a substantial penalty.

Officials said the broader decriminalisation drive is aimed at reducing the burden on courts, improving ease of doing business, and aligning outdated laws with current regulatory realities.

(KNN Bureau)