Context:

Recently, the Boilers Bill, 2024 was introduced in Rajya Sabha.

More on the news

• The Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister of India on August 2, 2024, approved repealing the existing Boilers Act, 1923, and introducing the “Boilers Bill, 2024” in the Parliament. 

The salient features of the Bill are as follows

• Similar provisions present at various places in the Boilers Act, 1923 have been clubbed together in six chapters for easy reading and understanding of the Act. All the functions/powers of the Central Government, State Governments and Central Boilers Board have been detailed to avoid confusion.
• For ease of doing business (EODB), the Bill will benefit boiler users, the MSME sector, as provisions relating to decriminalisation have been incorporated in the Bill. To ensure the safety of boilers and boiler handling employees, criminal penalties have been retained for four major offences out of seven offences that may result in loss of life and property.
• For other offences, monetary penalties are being introduced. Further, ‘fines’ for all non-criminal cases have been changed to ‘penalties’, which will be imposed through the executive mechanism instead of the courts.
• The bill makes specific provisions to ensure the safety of persons working inside the boilers and the boiler repairs will be carried out by qualified and competent persons.

The following unnecessary/ obsolete provisions of the Boilers Act, 1923 have been deleted

• Section 1(2): Applicability of the Act to the whole of India,
• Section 2A: Applicability of the Act to feed-pipes and
• Section 2B: Applicability of the Act to economisers.

The following new provisions have been incorporated in the Bill:

• Section 43 (Power to remove difficulties): Provides for removal of any difficulty in giving effect to the provisions of the Boilers Act
• Section 44 (Repeal and Continuation): To continue in force the various rules regulations, orders, etc. under the Boilers Act, 1923 until new rules, regulations, orders, etc. are notified under the re-enacted Boilers Act, 2024.

Significance of the Bill

• It modernizes the outdated 1923 Act, simplifies legal provisions, enhances clarity, and ensures qualified individuals handle boiler repairs.
• It intensifies speedy redressal for all non-criminal offences, removal of obsolete provisions to enhance Ease of Doing Business and prioritises the safety of workers.