Govt on a spree to scrap obsolete laws

The Lok Sabha, earlier this week, passed a Bill to repeal 35 Acts considered obsolete. Such an exercise was earlier undertaken in 2001, when 357 such laws were repealed. A second Bill passed by the Lok Sabha in December last year - currently with the Upper House of Parliament - has identified 88 more archaic laws for repeal.

Law Minister Sadananda Gowda told Parliament the government would bring in fresh legislation for repealing 741 more antique laws. A committee, appointed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has identified 1,741 Acts for repeal, and consolidation of 150 central laws. The Law Commission has through four reports recommended repeal of 250 laws, some of which fall under the jurisdiction of states.

The Repealing and Amending Bill, 2014 passed by the Lower House includes The Indian Fisheries Act 1897, The Foreign Jurisdiction Act 1947 and The Sugar Undertakings (Taking Over of Management) Act of 1978. Also The Marriage Laws (Amendment) Act of 2001, The Indian Divorce (Amendment) Act 2001 of The Indian Succession (Amendment) Act 2002 of The Legal Services Authorities (Amendment) Act of 2002, The Representation of the People (Third Amendment) Act of 2002, The Transfer of Property (Amendment) Act of 2002, The Indian Evidence (Amendment) Act of 2002, among others.

The minister informed Parliament that over the next two years, the government plans to clear the statute books of all redundant laws. Clearing the cobweb of obsolete laws was part of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government's election campaign in 2014.

A P Shah, chairman, Law Commission noted apart from periodic clearing of obsolete laws, there was a need to update existing laws to keep up with modern times and in keeping with international treaties that the country has signed over the years. In the coming months, the Commission would take up the exercise to update existing laws, he added.

The committee has also come out with a model draft for repeal of laws. In its report to the government, the Commission had also recommended repeal of appropriation Acts. It said there should be a mechanism - as in many other countries - to systematically remove appropriation Acts that have outlived their utility.