Odisha, Oct 11 : In a major reform to reduce criminal proceedings and ease compliance burdens, the Odisha Government has approved the Odisha Jan Vishwas Ordinance, 2025, aimed at decriminalising minor and procedural regulatory offences across multiple state laws.
According to an official statement, the Ordinance seeks to replace imprisonment with civil penalties for non-serious defaults, thereby reducing litigation, improving administrative efficiency, and lowering adjudication costs for both individuals and businesses.
Once enacted, the law will usher in a graded penalty framework, ensuring proportionate sanctions for minor infractions while promoting a trust based, facilitative governance model.
The Cabinet approval aligns Odisha’s regulatory environment with the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023, introduced by the Government of India to promote Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) and Ease of Living (EoL) through legal rationalisation.
A comprehensive review was undertaken across nine departments and 16 State Acts, covering domains such as healthcare, urban development, energy, labour welfare, and taxation. Notable legislations under review include:
The Odisha Municipal Act, 1950
The Odisha Prevention of Gambling Act, 1955
The Odisha Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1956
The Odisha Co-operative Societies Act, 1962
The Odisha Excise Act, 2008
The reform package eliminates imprisonment for non-serious offences under these Acts, replacing it with graded civil penalties and streamlining enquiry and appeal mechanisms through authorised officials for faster dispute resolution.
Officials emphasised that the new approach will minimise criminalisation of routine regulatory breaches, reduce court backlogs, and boost investor confidence by providing greater clarity and predictability in compliance norms.
The Odisha Jan Vishwas Ordinance, 2025, marks a significant step toward modernising the State’s legal framework, aligning it with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and fostering a more transparent and citizen-centric governance ecosystem.
Once implemented, the ordinance is expected to enhance both business convenience and citizen trust, positioning Odisha as a progressive and reform-oriented state committed to ease, efficiency, and equity in governance.