Odisha Cabinet approves Jan Vishwas Ordinance 2025 to decriminalize minor regulatory offences
Bhubaneswar – The Odisha government announced a major legal reform Friday, approving the Odisha Jan Vishwas Ordinance 2025. The ordinance will shift many minor regulatory offenses from criminal to civil penalties, easing the burden on businesses and citizens.
Under the ordinance, Odisha will drop imprisonment and criminal fines for a range of non‑serious infractions. Instead, authorities will impose graded civil penalties, speeding up resolutions and cutting court costs. The reform covers 16 state acts, including municipal governance, gambling, labor welfare, fire safety, excise, electricity duty and cooperative societies, among others.
City officials and nine ministries reviewed the outdated laws and chose 16 key acts for amendment. Notable acts on the list are the Odisha Nurses and Midwives Registration Act, 1938; the Odisha Municipal Act, 1950; the Odisha Prevention of Gambling Act, 1955; the Odisha Agricultural Produce Markets Act, 1956; the Odisha Town Planning and Improvement Trust Act, 1956; and the Odisha Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1956.
The new ordinance follows the India Government’s Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023, which also advocates reducing criminal penalties for non‑serious defaults.
Odisha’s chief minister, Mohan Charan Majhi, said the reforms will boost investor confidence, simplify business operations and help Odisha reach its “Viksit Odisha” development goal. The government sees the changes as a win for good governance and a step toward a more citizen‑friendly, growth‑oriented state.
Source: ianslive
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