India, Dec. 9 -- In accordance with the central government's Jan Vishwas Act, which has decriminalised various penal provisions in the country's laws, the state government on Monday tabled a bill to amend provisions that criminalise minor contraventions. The bill proposes to replace punishments meted out for these with civil penalties in order to reduce the burden on courts and increase administrative efficiency.

Among the laws that are proposed to be amended are the Shops and Establishment (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, the Maharashtra Medical Council Act and the Nursing Home Registration Act. The government proposes to amend Section 7 of the Shops and Establishments Act-which deals with not informing the Stat...