Two of the three bills listed for the Rajya Sabha’s legislative business on Wednesday are the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill of 2023 and the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill of 2023.
The Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023 is another bill that is scheduled for passage in the Upper House in addition to the other two. Piyush Goyal, the Union Minister of Textiles, Minister of Commerce and Industry, and Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, will introduce the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2023 for consideration and approval. The bill will amend some existing laws to decriminalize and rationalize offenses in order to further strengthen trust-based governance for the benefit of everyday life and business. On July 27, the Lok Sabha approved the Bill.
On December 22 of last year, the Bill was initially introduced in the Lok Sabha. The Joint Committee of the Parliament was then tasked with looking into the matter. Along with the Legislative Department and the Department of Legal Affairs, the Joint Committee on the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2022 held thorough discussions with each of the 19 ministries and departments. Between January 9 and February 17 of this year, the Committee held nine sittings to examine the Bill clause-by-clause. In its meeting on March 13 of this year, the Committee ultimately decided to adopt its Report. On March 17 and March 20, respectively, the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha received the Committee’s Report.
Through The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2023, a total of 183 provisions are being proposed to be decriminalised in 42 Central Acts administered by 19 ministries and departments.
The Amendment Bill will contribute to rationalising criminal provisions and ensuring that citizens, businesses and the government departments operate without fear of imprisonment for minor, technical or procedural defaults.
