The Odisha Assembly on Tuesday passed the Jan Vishwas Bill 2025 aimed at decriminalising certain minor offences in 16 existing laws to promote a more business-friendly and citizen-centric environment in the state.
Moved by Industries Minister Sampad Chandra Swain, the Odisha Jan Vishwas Bill, 2025, was debated amid demands from the opposition BJD and Congress members to refer it to a select committee for further scrutiny.
Critics, who sarcastically dubbed the legislation the “A-Vishwas Bill” (meaning distrust), warned that it could potentially harm society or favour corporate interests over public welfare. ‘Vishwas’ means ‘trust’, ‘A-Vishwas’ is just the opposite.
Defending the legislation, Swain stated it targets provisions that impede ‘ease of doing business’ and ‘ease of living’.
“Several laws in Odisha have come to include strict fines, even imprisonment for minor omissions or procedural lapses, despite the absence of any fraudulent or harmful intent. These onerous provisions place an unnecessary burden on individuals and businesses, discourage compliance and lead to avoidable litigation,” he said.
Sixteen legislations spanning across sectors such as labour, urban governance, agriculture, health and trade were identified, reviewed, and reformed, he added.
“The objective is to move away from treating minor, unintentional violations as crimes and instead handle them through civil penalties or administrative processes. This will help reduce load on the criminal justice system and encourage honest compliance rather than instilling fear of prosecution,” the Industries Minister said.
With the Assembly’s approval, the bill will amend 161 provisions across the 16 laws while 50 penal laws will be simplified, and 111 laws currently imposing fines will be converted into a financial penalty framework, and others will undergo administrative simplification, the minister said.
Congress members C S Razen Ekka and Sofia Firdous, during the discussion, voiced concern that removing the imprisonment clause in certain cases could encourage crimes and called for a closer review of laws related to gambling and excise.
They demanded that the Bill be sent to the select committee for detailed examination.
BJD members, including Ranendra Pratap Swain, Ganeswar Behera, Goutam Buddha Das, and Dhruba Charan Sahoo, opposed the legislation, arguing that it favoured corporate interests over public welfare.
“We do not understand why the Odisha government is in a hurry to pass the Bill while many BJP-ruled states are yet to do so. Odisha’s eagerness could be known from the imposition of an ordinance on Jan Vishwas just 25 days before the commencement of the winter session of the Assembly,” Behera said.
BJP members like Irashish Acharya and Fakir Mohan Naya maintained the Bill would help reduce harassment of citizens over minor offences.
Opposition members staged a walk-out during the minister’s reply.
