Cabinet clears Haryana Jan Vishwas Ordinance, 2025

The Haryana Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, on Sunday approved the Haryana Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Ordinance, 2025, marking the largest-ever decriminalisation exercise undertaken by any state government in India.

Largest-ever decriminalisation exercise

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HIV/AIDS Rules, 2025

Ombudsmen appointed for six divisions; free diagnostics and stronger rights protection for people living with HIV

Prison (Amendment) Rules, 2025

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Defines ‘Habitual Offender’; excludes jail period from 5-year count

Housing Board (Amendment) Bill, 2025

Enables merger of Housing Board Haryana with HSVP

Village Common Lands Rules, 1964

4% land reserved for persons with 60% disability; land lease for cow shelters allowed

Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025

Quorum for Gram Sabha fixed at 40%, 30% and 20% for successive meetings

The ordinance aims to reduce compliance burden, decriminalise minor offences and replace criminal penalties with civil and administrative actions, aligning with the Government of India’s Jan Vishwas initiative.

164 provisions in 42 Acts decriminalised

The proposed ordinance seeks to decriminalise 164 provisions across 42 state Acts, administered by 17 departments. These changes will replace criminal penalties for minor technical or procedural violations with civil fines and administrative measures.

The move also includes removal of outdated and redundant clauses to make the legal framework more transparent, efficient, and business-friendly.

Officials said this initiative follows the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023, passed by the Union Government, which decriminalised 183 provisions across 42 Central Acts. Haryana’s step is being viewed as a major governance reform at the state level.

“This Ordinance represents the most extensive decriminalisation effort undertaken by any state government to date,” a spokesperson said.

Rules for HIV/AIDS prevention and control

The Cabinet also approved the framing of State Rules under Section 49(1) of the Haryana Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (Prevention and Control) Act, 2017.

The new rules, titled the Haryana Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Rules, 2025, designate Divisional Commissioners of the six administrative divisions — Rohtak, Hisar, Karnal, Gurugram, Faridabad and Ambala — as Ombudsmen.

Each Ombudsman will handle complaints and grievances of people living with HIV/AIDS, supported by the Civil Surgeon of the respective district.

The rules aim to ensure strengthened diagnostic facilities, management of opportunistic infections and free diagnostic services at all government health institutions. They also specify measures to protect the rights of individuals and children affected by HIV.

Amendments to prison rules

The Cabinet approved amendments to the Haryana Prison Rules, 2022, introducing the definition of a “Habitual Offender.”

The new clause defines a habitual offender as: “A person who, during any continuous period of five years, has been convicted and sentenced to imprisonment on more than two occasions for offences committed on different occasions. Provided that any period spent in jail under sentence or detention shall not be counted while computing the five-year period.”

Housing Board to merge with HSVP

The Cabinet also approved the proposal to introduce the Haryana Housing Board (Amendment) Bill, 2025 in the upcoming Assembly session to facilitate the merger of the Housing Board Haryana (HBH) with the Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP).

Changes in Land and Panchayati Raj Rules

Village common lands

The Cabinet approved amendments to Rule 6(2) of the Punjab Village Common Lands Rules, 1964, providing for 4% reservation of leased cultivable land for persons with 60% or more benchmark disability.

Another amendment to Rule 6(2A) allows the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying to lease land for establishing Gau Abhyarans (cow shelters) for 20 years at Rs 5,100 per acre per year.

Gram Panchayats have also been empowered to prepare Land Utilisation Plans for up to 250 acres (earlier 100 acres). If the Panchayat Samiti or Zila Parishad fails to approve the plan within a given timeframe, the Gram Panchayat can approach the state government directly for a decision.

Panchayati Raj Act amendment

The Cabinet also cleared an amendment to the Haryana Panchayati Raj Act, 1994 through the Haryana Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025.

Under the new provision, the quorum for Gram Sabha meetings to approve beneficiaries of government schemes will be 40% of total members.

However, in adjourned meetings, the quorum will reduce to 30% and 20%, respectively.