A briefing-cum-awareness session on the provisions of the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026 and the consequential amendments to the Railways Act, 1989 and the Calcutta Metro Railway (Operation and Maintenance) Temporary Provisions Act, 1985 was conducted on Wednesday in Mysuru for officers and staff of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) of Mysuru and Hubballi divisions.

The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026, which has received the assent of the President of India and has been published in the Gazette of India, aims to decriminalise minor regulatory offences and replace imprisonment provisions with civil or administrative penalties. The legislation seeks to promote trust-based governance, simplify compliance procedures and facilitate ease of doing business and public interaction with government institutions.

The programme was organised in compliance with the directions of the Inspector General-cum-Principal Chief Security Commissioner (IG-cum-PCSC), RPF, South Western Railway, Hubballi, to disseminate the amended legal provisions among all ranks of RPF personnel through structured awareness programmes.

A total of 34 officers and staff of RPF, Mysuru division, participated in the session, along with personnel from Hubballi division. The participation of officers and staff from both divisions ensured wider dissemination of the amended provisions among frontline enforcement personnel and highlighted the importance of effective implementation of the new legal framework governing railway-related offences.

The session was conducted by R. Hanumanthappa, Senior Public Prosecutor, Arsikere, who elaborated on the key amendments introduced under the Act. He explained the transition from criminal prosecution to administrative penalties for specified offences and clarified the procedures to be followed in cases where penalties are not paid and prosecution remains applicable under the law.

He also addressed practical aspects of enforcement and prosecution and answered queries raised by officers and staff regarding the implementation of the amended provisions in day-to-day operations.

Speaking on the occasion, Sam Prashanth J.R., Senior Divisional Security Commissioner/RPF, Mysuru division, emphasised the importance of continuous capacity-building initiatives for RPF personnel.

He said that such programmes help ensure that enforcement practices remain aligned with the latest statutory provisions and the broader objective of citizen-centric governance. He also informed that similar awareness programmes would be conducted periodically to keep frontline staff updated on legal and procedural developments.