The Odisha Assembly has approved the Jan Vishwas Bill 2025, a reform measure designed to remove criminal penalties for minor violations across 16 existing state laws. The government stated that the reform aims to create a smoother, more supportive environment for both citizens and businesses.
Industries Minister Sampad Chandra Swain introduced the Bill, which generated debate as members of the BJD and the Congress, called for a referral to a select committee for closer examination.
Opponents criticised the proposal as an A Vishwas Bill, expressing concern that the changes might undermine public welfare rather than strengthen it.
Swain defended the legislation, explaining that several state laws currently impose strict fines or even imprisonment for small procedural errors that carry no fraudulent intent. He argued that such provisions burden residents and enterprises, discourage compliance, and often lead to unnecessary legal disputes.
According to the minister, the reform examines 16 laws covering key sectors including labour, urban administration, agriculture, health, and trade. The central aim is to stop treating minor, unintentional lapses as criminal offences and instead address them through civil penalties or administrative actions.
Swain said this shift is expected to ease pressure on the criminal justice system and encourage genuine compliance rather than fear driven behaviour.
With the Bill’s approval, a total of 161 provisions within these laws will be amended. The minister added that 50 penal provisions will be simplified, 111 instances of fines will be converted into financial penalty frameworks, and several other sections will undergo administrative streamlining.
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