Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill 2026
The Lok Sabha passed the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill 2026, which aims to amend 80 Central Acts to decriminalize certain offences and replace them with graded civil penalties.
Key Aspects of the Bill
- The Bill replaces criminal liability with civil penalties to reduce the burden on courts and avoid unnecessary legal proceedings.
- Introduced in Lok Sabha on March 27, it passed by a voice vote despite opposition concerns.
- The Bill emphasizes moving from punishment (dand) to justice (nyay), advocating a culture based on trust rather than suspicion.
Arguments in Favor
- Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal emphasized that the Bill provides a graded response, encouraging improvement and reducing court case numbers.
- Goyal highlighted that under past governments, laws were made without considering public inconvenience, and the Bill aims to rectify this.
- The Bill aims to impose penalties selectively, such as on drug manufacturers for specific omissions rather than on retailers.
- MP praised the Bill for supporting entrepreneurs by decriminalizing various offences.
Opposition Concerns
- Opposition members argued that converting criminal liability to penalties makes it easier for corporations to evade accountability.
- Criticized the practice of making blanket amendments without considering individual law contexts, warning against anti-labor policies.
- Expressed concerns that decriminalization might allow corporations to bypass penalties, diminishing their accountability.
Conclusion
The Jan Vishwas Bill is a significant legislative move intended to decriminalize offences, reduce court burdens, and build a trust-based governance model, while facing criticism for potentially easing corporate accountability.
