The Goa Govt adopts Jan Vishwas reforms as the State Cabinet approves the move to decriminalise 28 minor offences. The Goa Govt adopts Jan Vishwas reforms to replace jail terms with monetary fines, making compliance easier for citizens and businesses.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the government studied all minor acts that earlier included imprisonment. After review, the Cabinet decided to remove jail provisions and introduce financial penalties instead. He explained that Goa is following the same reform model introduced by the Central Government under the Jan Vishwas Act.
The changes are part of the Goa Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025. The Bill aims to reduce fear of criminal charges for small violations. It also helps businesses work with less legal pressure and clearer rules.
The central Jan Vishwas Act of 2023 removed criminal penalties from 183 provisions across 42 laws. Similarly, the 2025 Bill proposes changes to 355 provisions. These changes focus on improving ease of doing business and ease of living.
The new system introduces graded fines, frequent updates to penalty amounts, and more authority for officers to impose fines directly. This reduces the burden on courts and speeds up decision-making.
The reforms also cover additional changes in the Tea Act, Legal Metrology Act, Motor Vehicles Act, and Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
