New Delhi: From hawking without a licence to washing clothes at non-notified spots, to keeping ferocious dogs at large, and failing to furnish returns under old industrial laws, a host of petty offences are on their way out in India. The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025 replaces the provision of jail with monetary penalties or simple warnings.
Union Minister Piyush Goyal introduced the Bill Monday in the Lok Sabha to simplify governance and reduce the criminalisation of everyday activities. The Bill to decriminalise provisions relating to minor offences under various central acts was referred to the select committee of the Lok Sabha for scrutiny.
Much like its predecessor, the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023, which decriminalised dozens of outdated provisions across 42 laws, the 2025 Bill takes aim at an even wider range of petty offences.
The petty offences to be repealed are as varied as it gets: whether it is a farmer tying his cow to a street pole, a commuter honking in a silence zone, or a shopkeeper using faulty weights.
A recurring feature of the Bill is the first-warning mechanism. Many of these offences will not attract a fine or prosecution the first time. Instead, offenders will be issued an ‘improvement notice,’ giving them a chance to correct the lapse. If repeated, penalties will apply—but imprisonment is largely being removed.
“The goal of the Jan Vishwas Bill is to create a more business-friendly environment and promote ease of living by eliminating unnecessary legal hurdles and simplifying the regulatory landscape. The initiative underscores India’s commitment to creating a predictable, transparent and fair regulatory environment,” the Bill’s statement reads.
The core objective is to reduce compliance burdens on businesses and citizens by eliminating unnecessary criminal provisions. The government argues that the fear of imprisonment for minor offences is a major impediment to growth and individual confidence. By replacing these with monetary penalties, it hopes to reduce judicial backlogs as well.
The Bill covers 16 Central Acts administered by 10 ministries/departments. A total of 355 provisions are proposed to be amended—288 provisions decriminalised to foster Ease of Doing Business, and 67 provisions proposed to be amended to facilitate Ease of Living, according to a Press Information Bureau (PIB) release.
If passed, the Bill will reshape how Indians encounter law in routine life—removing the tag of ‘criminal’ from everyday infractions and replacing it with accountability through fines.
Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957
Perhaps the quirkiest set of changes lies within this Act, which covered everything from damaging street lamps to washing clothes in public places.
The Bill deletes a host of sections, transforming many offences into simple ‘violations’ that now draw fixed penalties. Tethering animals or milking cattle in public streets earlier punishable now attract a Rs 1,000 penalty, plus Rs 50 daily for continuing violation.
Earlier, failure to provide latrines and urinals in premises, failure to clean or repair them and not ensuring proper sanitary arrangements brought petty fines and could even lead to prosecution under municipal law. Under the 2025 Bill, they fall under the ‘warning on first contravention, penalty thereafter’ system.
Allowing filth to flow into streets or keeping rubbish for more than 24 hours will now draw a monetary fine as well. Next, washing clothing/bedding at places not notified by the Commissioner is now at a Rs 50 penalty. Keeping ferocious dogs without muzzles now will attract a Rs 1,000 penalty. Hawking articles without a licence will bring a penalty of Rs 200.
Damaging street lamps, lamp posts or lamp irons which were earlier punishable with fine, now treated as a civic violation under the new penalty schedule. First contravention draws a warning/remedial notice, thereafter a fixed penalty (Rs 500–Rs 1,000).
Similarly, exposing naked light near buildings used for storing combustible materials (or, similar fire-safety related nuisances) will be moved from ‘punishable with fine’ offence to ‘liable to a penalty’.
Under the same regime, making or selling food, or washing clothes by infected persons and burning or burial of corpses in a closed ground now have a penalty of Rs 50.
Removal of corpses in contravention of prescribed routes will have a penalty of Rs 25.
Importantly, police powers of arrest under the Act have been restricted—meaning that arrests can only be made if an authorised officer files a complaint.
First-time contraventions in many categories such as keeping rubbish for over 24 hours, failure to collect and remove filth, or washing in unauthorised spots will now attract only a warning notice, instead of a punishment and fine.
An appeal mechanism has also been introduced, allowing penalties imposed by municipal officers to be challenged without going to court.
Motor Vehicles Act, 1988
India’s road users will see sweeping changes under this amendment. Dozens of offences earlier labelled ‘punishable with fine’ will now be ‘liable to a penalty.’
Driving without registration, carrying excess passengers, or not wearing seat belts now have penalties instead of criminal fines. Honking needlessly in silence zones is proposed to have a warning on first contravention, penalty thereafter.
Furthermore, failure to give way to emergency vehicles—previously punishable with imprisonment up to six months and/or a Rs 10,000 fine—now has a penalty for the first offence, with imprisonment retained only for repeated violations.
Legal Metrology Act, 2009
This Act, which governs weights and measures, covers several petty offences such as using non-standard weights, selling mislabelled goods, or failing to produce documents.
Under the 2025 Bill, such breaches will now trigger an ‘improvement notice’ the first time. Repeat offenders will face escalating fines, often doubling with each instance, up to specified maximums. Imprisonment is removed for many categories.
Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934
Under the original RBI Act, failing to furnish information, refusing to produce documents, or ignoring queries could result in fines, with the possibility of fines for continuing offences.
The 2025 Bill deletes several ‘penalty’ sub-sections and instead empowers the central bank to impose an administrative penalty not exceeding Rs 1 lakh per offence, with additional penalties for ongoing defaults.
Auditors, too, will see changes: previously, non-compliance with RBI directions had penalties up to Rs 10 lakh. Those provisions are being omitted, reflecting a softer, non-criminal treatment of such contraventions.
Central Silk Board Act, 1948
Offences like obstructing an officer of the Silk Board, once punishable with imprisonment up to a year or fines, will now only invite a warning on the first offence.
Subsequent or repeated contraventions will be met with penalties ranging between Rs 25,000 and Rs 1 lakh. The threat of jail is removed.
Tea Act, 1953
Failing to file returns or furnishing false information under the Tea Act once attracted fines. Under the new Bill, offenders will instead receive a warning on the first instance, followed by penalties up to Rs 1 lakh for repeat violations.
Apprentices Act, 1961
Employers who fail to engage apprentices or refuse to furnish required information were earlier liable to fines or imprisonment.
The 2025 Bill substitutes this with a three-tier approach: an advisory for the first contravention, followed by censure or warning, and finally monetary penalties for repeated breaches.
Textiles Committee Act, 1963
Under the old provisions, violating orders such as the prohibition of export or sale of textiles could lead to prosecution and imprisonment.
Now, the first contravention will only draw a warning, while repeated violations could result in penalties up to Rs 25 lakh.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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