Promoting justice, protecting individual rights
Reforms in law are needed from time to time. These reforms can prove to be beneficial for several reasons, as updation of laws reflect changing societal values, norms, and technological advancements.
Initiating these reforms can help ensure that laws are fair, equitable, and provide justice for all individuals. Besides, streamlining laws and procedures can improve the efficiency of the legal system which has otherwise been a point of debate in the country for quite some time now.
Reforms in laws can also ensure to strengthen protections for individual rights and freedoms as many such laws need to be updated with time that have been followed as a mere practice since many decades now.
Notably, the union government’s move to ensure updation of several laws under the second Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill is all set to decriminalise as many as 288 provisions relating to minor offences under different laws with a view to promote ease of living and improve business climate.
This is the second Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill. Earlier in 2023, the government enacted a similar law decriminalising 183 provisions in 42 central Acts, administered by 19 ministries and departments.
Though the Bill has been referred to the Select Committee of the Lok Sabha for scrutiny, it has been tasked to submit its report to the House by the first day of the next session of Parliament.
Notably, the legislation has proposed to decriminalise norms related to a number of laws, including Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, New Delhi Municipal Council Act, 1994 (NDMC Act), and The Road Transport Corporations Act, 1950.
Four Acts — the Tea Act, 1953, Legal Metrology Act, 2009, Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 — were part of Jan Vishwas Act, 2023 and are proposed for further decriminalisation under the current bill.
In the Motor Vehicles Act, the bill proposed to provide relaxation and clarity in compliance, including state-wide vehicle registration instead of jurisdiction-specific; driving licence renewal effective from the date of renewal if applied after expiry; a grace period of 30 days after licence expiry; and claims tribunals empowered to condone filing delays up to 12 months.
A total of 355 provisions are proposed to be amended through this Bill. It includes 288 provisions to be decriminalised to foster ease of doing business, and 67 others to facilitate ease of living.
The legislation is part of the government’s efforts to enhance the country’s business climate. The 2025 Bill expands this reform agenda to cover 16 central Acts administered by 10 ministries and departments.
As per the bill, first time offenders under 10 laws will be given advisory or warning for 76 offences.
It also proposes to replace imprisonment for minor, technical or procedural defaults with monetary penalties or warnings. Further, the 2025 bill has proposed rationalisation of penalties; and revision of fines and penalties. Under the bill, designated officers will be empowered to impose penalties through administrative processes, thus reducing judicial burden.
The bill seen as a significant milestone in India’s regulatory reform journey can be a powerful tool for improving society, promoting justice, and protecting individual rights.
