Jan Vishwas Bill Passed in Chhattisgarh: Only Fines, No Criminal Cases Now

Raipur, 18 July

The Chhattisgarh Assembly on Friday passed the Jan Vishwas Bill by a voice vote, marking a key step towards improving ease of doing business and ease of living in the state.

Touted as a historic reform, the bill aims to decriminalise minor technical violations by citizens and business owners — many of which stemmed from outdated British-era laws. These offences will now attract monetary penalties instead of criminal charges.

Officials said the move will ease the burden on the judicial system by cutting down on avoidable litigation, while sparing citizens from facing criminal proceedings for minor lapses. The bill amends 163 provisions across eight Acts, including the Urban Administration Department laws, Nagar Tatha Gram Nivesh Act, Society Registration Act, Chhattisgarh Industrial Relations Act, and the Chhattisgarh Cooperative Society Act.

Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai has described this bill as an important step towards developed India-developed Chhattisgarh. “On the lines of the Indian Judicial Code brought under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chhattisgarh has now become the second state after Madhya Pradesh to pass the Jan Vishwas Bill,” said Shri Sai.

The objective of this bill is to make employment and business easier in the state as well as to protect traders and common citizens from judicial litigation in non-criminal category cases and to create a smooth business and responsible environment. This bill is helpful in giving direction to business and making such policies which are practical and sensitive, instead of giving punishment.

Aimed at reducing the fear of criminal litigation among entrepreneurs, the newly passed Jan Vishwas Bill ensures that delays in regulatory filings will now attract only administrative fines, not criminal charges — a move expected to boost ease of doing business in Chhattisgarh.

The bill also amends the Chhattisgarh Excise Act, 1915. First-time public consumption of alcohol will now draw only a monetary fine. Repeat offences, however, will invite both a fine and possible imprisonment.

Under the Urban Administration Department Act, the earlier provision of filing a criminal case against landlords for failing to report rent hikes has been diluted. A maximum penalty of Rs 1,000 will now apply instead.

Similarly, societies that delay filing annual reports will face only nominal financial penalties rather than criminal proceedings — with women-led groups receiving even more leniency.

In another key change, institutions that mistakenly use the word “cooperative” will no longer face criminal charges; a simple administrative fine will apply instead.