The Gujarat government is considering decriminalisation of a number of “minor offences” by replacing them with monetary penalties, stating that “fear of imprisonment” was a “major factor hampering the growth of the business ecosystem and individual confidence”.
The state government aims to achieve this by amending certain provisions of 11 Acts by introducing the Gujarat Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025, during the three-day Monsoon Session of the state Legislative Assembly from September 8 to 10. A total of five bills will be tabled in the Session.
“With the aim of promoting restructuring of business processes in industries and improving the ease of living, the state government is ready to take a series of steps like simplification, digitisation and rationalisation of legal regulations under which the government will introduce the Gujarat Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025, to make life and businesses easier and reduce the burden of cases on the courts,” state government spokesperson Rushikesh Patel said in a press briefing.
These include Gujarat Co-operative Societies Act, 1961, the Gujarat Agricultural Produce and Marketing (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 1963, the Gujarat Town Planning and Urban Development Act, 1976, the Gujarat Municipalities Act, 1963, the Gujarat Provincial Municipal Corporations Act, 1949, and the Gujarat Industrial Development Act, 1962. The Gujarat Domestic Water Supply (Protection) Act, 2019, the Gujarat Labour Welfare Fund Act, 1953, the Gujarat Industrial Relations Act, 1946, the Gujarat Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 2019, and the Gujarat Electricity Duty Act, 1958, are also sought to be amended through this Bill.
“A web of outdated rules and regulations causes trust deficit. It is, therefore, necessary to redefine the regulatory landscape of the laws under the Ease of Living and Ease of Doing Business reforms.
Reducing compliance burden gives impetus to business process re-engineering and improves ease of living of people. For that purpose, the state government is keen to take a series of measures such as simplifying, digitising and rationalising compliances to achieve these goals,” the draft Bill states.
“The fear of imprisonment for minor offences is a major factor hampering the growth of the business ecosystem and individual confidence. The government is, therefore, considering decriminalisation of a number of minor offences by replacing them with monetary penalties. By taking such measures, the government is striving hard to make lives and businesses easier and reduce the burden on courts,” it adds.
The other four Bills to be introduced include Factories (Gujarat Amendment) Bill, 2025, by the Labour, Skill Development and Employment Department; Gujarat Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill, 2025, by the Finance Department; Gujarat Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025, by the Industries and Mines Department; and Gujarat Medical Practitioners (Amendment) Bill, 2025, along with the Gujarat Medical Institutions (Registration and Regulation) (Amendment) Bill, 2025, by the Health and Family Welfare Department.
To promote industrial investment and development in the state, to create more economic activities and employment opportunities, the state government also seeks to convert an existing ordinance — the Factories (Gujarat Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 — into a law.
Patel said that the state government has brought an ordinance as it is necessary to take steps to improve working hours by making legal provisions regarding essential benefits such as security measures for workers, especially women employees. In this regard, the Factories (Gujarat Amendment) Bill, 2025, will be introduced to convert the Ordinance into an Act, he added.
The Gujarat government spokesperson said that the ordinance has been brought as it is necessary to amend the Gujarat Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, to implement the recommendations of the Goods and Services Tax Council as soon as possible and to maintain uniformity in the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 (CGST Act) and the Gujarat Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 (GGST Act). In this regard, Gujarat Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill, 2025, will be brought to convert the Ordinance into an Act.
The Gujarat Medical Practitioners (Amendment) Bill, 2025, proposes renaming the regulatory body for Ayurvedic and Unani practitioners from “Board” to “Council” in line with the central government.
For the effective implementation of Gujarat Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2021, for the registration and regulation of clinical institutions in the state, it is considered necessary to provide more reasonable time to the clinical institutions for mandatory registration by law, he said. As part of this, the Gujarat Medical Institutions (Registration and Regulation) (Amendment) Bill, 2025, will be introduced, the spokesperson added.
Patel said that on September 8, the session will begin with the Question Hour followed by a daylong discussion on condolence motions after which the House will be adjourned. A congratulatory motion on the success of Operation Sindoor will be brought by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel during this session.
The Gujarat Medical Practitioners (Amendment) Bill, 2025, proposes renaming the regulatory body for Ayurvedic and Unani practitioners from “Board” to “Council” in line with the central government.
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