Parliament nod to Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill

New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha Thursday passed the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill by voice vote. The Bill proposes to amend 784 provisions of 79 Central Acts administered by 23 ministries, decriminalise 717 provisions and amend 67 provisions to facilitate ease of living. The Lok Sabha had passed it on Wednesday.

Replying to the discussion on the Bill, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal said that it will help in the ease of doing business and ease of living by decriminalising minor offences, and help citizens and MSMEs.

“We have taken a graded approach. There could be improvement notices or warnings but for repeat offences there could be penalty. If violations continue, then there are provisions for punitive penalty and criminal offences,” he said, adding that this reform is a significant step towards simplifying laws, reducing compliance burden and fear of penalties.


It also proposes amendments under New Delhi Municipal Council Act, 1994 (NDMC Act) and Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 to facilitate Ease of Living.

These include allowing vehicle registration throughout the state instead of particular jurisdiction, driving licence to be renewed with effect from the date of its renewal and not from the date of its expiry incase applied after expiry, and providing a grace period of thirty days after the expiry of licence, during which the licence shall continue to be effective.

Proposed aasing under the New Delhi Municipal Council Act, 1994 includes a Rs 1,000 penalty for keeping a lodging house, eating house, tea shop, et without license or contrary to terms of license which is currently punishable with fine of Rs 100.

For keeping horses, cattle or other animals or trading or operating in them without a licence, which is currently punishable with fine of Rs 1000 and a daily fine of Rs 100, is proposed to be converted to penalty of Rs 1000.