The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2023, was approved in the Lok Sabha on July 27, 2023. The bill was proposed to decriminalise 183 provisions of the 42 Central Acts including PMLA Act, National Housing Bank Act, High Denomination Banknotes (Demonetization) Act ..etc.
Initially, it was introduced in the Lok Sabha on December 22, 2022. Afterward, it was referred to the Joint Committee of the Parliament for further examination and consideration.
A total of 183 provisions in 42 Central Acts, which are overseen by 19 Ministries/Departments, are being proposed to be decriminalised by the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2023. It is suggested that decriminalisation be accomplished in the following ways: –
(i) Both Imprisonment and/or Fine are proposed to be removed in some provisions.
(ii) Imprisonment is proposed to be removed and fine retained in few provisions.
(iii) Imprisonment is proposed to be removed and Fine enhanced in few provisions.
(iv) Imprisonment and Fine are proposed to be converted to Penalty in some provisions.
(v) Compounding of offences is proposed to be introduced in a few provisions
The 42 Central Acts covered under the Jan Vishwas Bill are:
- The Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act, 1937
- The Marine Products Export Development Authority Act, 1972
- The Rubber Act, 1947
- The Tea Act, 1953
- The Spices Board Act, 1986
- The Legal Metrology Act, 2009
- The Cantonments Act 2006
- The Government Securities Act, 2006
- The High Denomination Banknotes (Demonetization) Act, 1978
- The Public Debt Act, 1944
- The Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016
- The Information Technology Act, 2000
- The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
- The Environment Protection Act, 1986
- The Indian Forest Act, 1927
- The Public Liability Insurance Act, 19941
- The Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation Act, 1961
- The Factoring Regulation Act, 2011
- The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development Act, 1981
- The National Housing Bank Act, 1987
- The Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007
- The Food Corporations Act, 1964
- The Warehousing Corporation Act, 1962
- The Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940
- The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006
- The Pharmacy Act, 1948
- The Metro Railways (Operation and Maintenance) Act, 2002
- The Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867
- The Cinematography Act, 1952
- The Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995
- The Merchant Shipping Act, 1958
- The Indian Post Office Act, 1898
- The Boilers Act, 1923
- The Copyright Act, 1957
- The Geographical Indications of Goods Act, 1999
- The Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951
- The Patents Act, 1970
- The Trade Marks Act, 1999
- The Railways Act, 1989
- The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988
- The Prevention of Money-laundering Act, 2002
- The Collection of Statistics Act, 2008
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