Kohima, March 27 The Nagaland Assembly passed a bill on Friday to decriminalize minor offenses and overhaul regulatory frameworks across multiple state laws.
The core intent of the Nagaland Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026, is to shift governance from a punitive, prosecution-heavy system to a compliance-based, citizen-centric framework.
According to the bill, the government seeks to build a governance ecosystem that is transparent, trust-based, and facilitative of economic growth, aligning with broader national trends toward reducing criminal liabilities for technical and procedural lapses.
The legislation noted that several existing state laws still contain provisions that criminalize minor, technical, or procedural violations, which often lead to undue harassment of citizens and businesses, increased compliance burden, and limited improvement in actual regulatory outcomes.
The Bill promotes digital compliance systems and time-bound processes, and also reduces regulatory uncertainty to improve the ease of doing business in the state.
The Bill makes it clear that serious offenses impacting public health, safety, and revenue will continue to attract strict penal provisions. The broader aim is to encourage voluntary compliance based on trust rather than fear of prosecution.
The legislation amends multiple state laws across sectors – ranging from town planning and municipal governance to labour, tourism, and taxation – indicating a system-wide regulatory overhaul.
The Statement of Objects further underscores that the reforms are expected to enhance investor confidence, reduce bureaucratic friction, and create a more business-friendly environment, especially for MSMEs and small entrepreneurs.
The Bill was introduced by Deputy Chief Minister Yanthungo Patton on Thursday and passed by voice vote on Friday.