UP govt to bring bill to abolish criminal provisions in trade and industry acts: CM | Lucknow News
Lucknow: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday said the UP govt would soon bring the ‘Sugamya Vyapar (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025′ that aims to abolish 99% of criminal provisions in 13 acts related to industry and trade.The bill will be a new framework formed from restructuring laws such as the Excise Act, Molasses Act, Tree Protection Act, Revenue Code, Sugarcane Act, Groundwater Act, Municipal Corporation Act, Plastic Waste Act, Cinema Act and Panchayat Acts. “As part of the state’s efforts to elevate ease of doing business, the state is now looking at this leap to ensure the safety and welfare of workers,” the CM told officials during a high-level meeting. The move is in sync with PM Modi’s call of ‘Shramev Jayate’ and his dictum that reforms must benefit both entrepreneurs and workers. Adding that with this, UP will become the first in the country to reclassify such provisions as non-criminal, the CM said: “Provisions mandating imprisonment will be replaced with heavier financial penalties and administrative action. Unnecessary punishments should give way to a fair and transparent system.” Labour reforms under consideration include extending factory licence validity, simplifying shop and establishment rules and creating more opportunities for women. To ensure transparency, the CM proposed a self-certification and third-party audit system for inspections, reducing industry burden while safeguarding worker welfare. An official spokesperson said the departments have been asked for feedback on the bill. They revealed that while most have agreed, some have raised objections. Taking note of this, the CM directed that all inputs be addressed to balance the interests of both industry and workers. Nivesh Mitra 3.0 soon As part of the reform agenda, the govt is also preparing to roll out ‘Nivesh Mitra 3.0′, a fully digital, investor-friendly platform with features such as a common application form, PAN-based identification, smart dashboard, multilingual support and an AI chatbot. The CM directed that services be delivered on time and grievances resolved promptly.
