Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Jan Vishwas Bill, 2025, was passed in the state Assembly with an aim to decriminalise certain minor offences in 16 existing laws to promote a more business-friendly and citizen-centric environment.
The Bill, moved by Industries Minister Sampad Chandra Swain, was passed on Tuesday after a debate amid demands from the opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Congress members to refer it to a select committee for further scrutiny.
While the government asserted that the measure would instil confidence in investors and promote a conducive business atmosphere, critics was dubbed “A-Vishwas Bill” and warned that it could harm society rather than benefit the public. While ‘Vishwas’ means ‘trust’, ‘A-Vishwas’ is just the opposite.
Defending the legislation, Minister Swain said 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 int
ent. These onerous provisions place an unnecessary burden on individuals and businesses, discourage compliance and lead to avoidable litigation,” he said.
Swain said 16 legislations spanning key sectors such as labour, urban governance, agriculture, health, and trade have been reviewed under the reform.
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,” he said.
With the Assembly’s approval, 161 provisions across the 16 laws will be amended. In addition, 50 penal laws will see simplification in criminalisation, 111 laws imposing fines will be converted to financial penalty frameworks, and others will undergo administrative simplification, the minister said.
During the discussion, Congress members C S Razen Ekka and Sofia Firdous demanded that the Bill be sent to the select committee for detailed examination.
BJD members Ranendra Pratap Swain, Ganeswar Behera, Goutam Buddha Das, and Dhruba Charan Sahoo opposed the legislation, arguing that it favoured corporate interests over public welfare.
BJP members Irashish Acharya and Fakir Mohan Nayak supported the Bill, stating that it would help reduce harassment of citizens over minor offences.
Opposition members staged a walk-out during the minister’s reply.