The government has proposed to abolish prison sentences

New Delhi: In a relief to first-time offenders, the government has proposed to do away with jail terms of up to three months for driving in violation of prescribed road safety and air and noise pollution norms.As part of the 784 provisions of 79 central laws that are to be amended through the Jan Vishwas Bill, many of which relate to decriminalisation, the government has proposed that driving a vehicle in violation of road safety or air-pollution control norms – which currently carries a punishment of three months’ jail or a fine of Rs 10,000 and six months’ disqualification from holding a driving license (DL) – will be punishable with a fine of Rs 10,000. Shall be punishable with fine and disqualification. To keep DL for three months for first offence. However, subsequent offenses will attract a jail term of up to six months and a fine of up to Rs 10,000.In case of violations related to noise pollution, the Bill proposes a warning for first-time offence, while a fine of up to Rs 10,000 will be imposed for repeat offence.Similarly, the penalty for failure to comply with an order or contravention of the provisions of the Electricity Act or rules, which currently attracts a jail term of three months with a fine of Rs 1 lakh, is proposed to be changed from Rs 10,000 to Rs 10 lakh.Compounding, which is an alternative to lump sum settlement, has been sought to be made mandatory for the first cases of electricity theft or interference with the functioning of meters or the licensee and deliberate damage to the works.Further, in a relief to home buyers, the Bill proposes to remove the existing provision of maximum one year jail term for allottees who fail to comply with the orders of the Real Estate Appellate Tribunal. The penalty for allottees is proposed to be increased to 10% of the property price.In another move to decriminalize unauthorized hawking in trains, the government has proposed to amend a section of the Railways Act under which the punishment of one year in jail and a fine of Rs 1,000-2,000 will be changed to a fine of only up to Rs 2,000.