Gujarat Assembly Passes Jan Vishwas Bill To Decriminalise Minor Offences

The Gujarat assembly passed the Gujarat Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill on Tuesday, aiming to decriminalise certain minor offences to promote "trust-based" governance and enhance ease of doing business in the state. The legislation, similar to a central bill passed by Parliament, replaces punitive measures like jail terms with financial penalties for various violations. Despite objections from the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the bill was approved through a majority voice vote during the monsoon session.

The bill targets 11 existing acts, including the Gujarat Co-operative Societies Act and the Gujarat Municipalities Act, by amending 516 provisions to simplify regulations and reduce the burden on courts. Offences such as unauthorised construction, encroachment on public spaces, non-removal of filth, and selling dairy products without permission would now attract fines instead of legal proceedings. Proponents argue this approach fosters business efficiency and trust in governance, with Industries Minister Balvantsinh Rajput emphasising that penalties would be imposed directly by the government, bypassing lengthy court processes.

Opposition parties, however, raised significant concerns during the debate. Congress demanded separate bills for each of the 11 acts, while AAP MLA Gopal Italia alleged that the legislation favours wrongdoers by undermining constitutional protections, such as Article 20(2) against double jeopardy. Italia criticised provisions that impose light penalties, like a Rs 500 fine for submitting bogus documents to a cooperative society, arguing it could encourage illegal activities and grant unchecked powers to officials without judicial oversight. He called for the bill to be reviewed by a select committee.

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The bill's passage highlights ongoing tensions between regulatory reform and legal safeguards in India, reflecting the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) push for business-friendly policies. While the assembly session also addressed other matters, the Jan Vishwas Bill dominated discussions, underscoring the challenges of balancing economic growth with accountability in state governance.

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