NEW DELHI: The latest Jan Vishwas Bill, moved in Parliament on Friday, proposes to abolish imprisonment for several offenses related to export of textiles, handlooms and agricultural products.For example, under the Textiles Commission Act, the export and sale of textiles or textile machinery in contravention of the stipulated order is cancelled, which can lead to imprisonment of up to one year, and the fine is proposed to be converted into a warning for the first offence, with a penalty of up to Rs 25 lakh proposed for each subsequent offence.Likewise, failure to provide information or sample, or providing false information or sample and destroying books of accounts or refusing to provide them will not attract a prison sentence of up to three months, instead a fine ranging between Rs 10,000 and Rs 25,000 can be imposed under the Handloom (Reservation of Materials for Production) Act.
Similar changes are also being proposed under the Agricultural Products and Processed Foods Export Development Authority Act with general offenses converting to imprisonment and fine to warning and penalty when it comes to violations of any of the provisions of the Act or rules.Importing or exporting scheduled agricultural products in violation of the specified order is currently punishable with imprisonment of up to one year and a fine proposed to be converted into a penalty (Rs. 10,000 or twice the value of the goods, whichever is higher).
The imprisonment and fine for failure to submit books and records and obstructing a member or officer were also removed.Under the Handloom (Reservation of Goods for Production) Act, the production of items meant for exclusive production by handlooms is proposed to be dealt with with a reduced imprisonment of three months, compared to six months now, and an increase in the fine from Rs 5,000 per loom to Rs 10,000-25,000 per loom. It is proposed to delete export of coconut products without a license or in contravention of the Maritime Customs Act, 1878 which currently carries a fine of up to Rs 500.