The Lok Sabha on 18th March, 2015 unanimously agreed to pass the ‘The Repealing and Amending Bill 2014’ under which as many as 35 laws shall be repealed.
Giving effect to his promises Prime Minister Narender Modi finally gets confidence votes in Lok Sabha to do away with the old archaic laws, which now were more of a hindrance in smooth administration rather serving much of a purpose.
It was one of Prime Minister Narender Modi election promise, that once BJP assumes power in the centre, it shall do away with all the old archaic laws which are an impediment to the governance. Prime Minister had then stressed upon the need to recognize and do away with such obsolete rules and procedures.
In his statement Law Minister Sachidanad Gowda stated, “This is an initial step taken by the new government. We will see in a span of one or two years…the statute book will be cleared. And there will be no confusion as far as disposal of cases are concerned.” The statement of the Law Minister clears the air of rumors on the future of cases on the proposed Act to be repealed, which are pending in various courts. It is clear that the Laws to be repealed shall not be done abruptly.
Earlier 36 laws were chosen for the purpose, however the consensus landed to repealing of 35 laws after the Law on Employment of Manual Scavenging and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993 was removed from the list.
The Acts which are sought to be repealed include amendments to the Representation of the People Act, Marriage Act, Election Laws, Divorce Laws and Anand Marriage Act and the Evidence Act. Apart from these principal acts to be repealed are Foreign Jurisdiction Act, Sugar Undertaking (Taking Over of Management) Act, Indian Fisheries Act and certain provisions of the Indian Penal Code.
Over a period of almost hundred years i.e. since 1901 to 2000 over one hundred laws have been repealed. Once the, ‘The Repealing and Amending Bill 2014′ comes into force hundred acts shall be repealed at once.
by Vibhuti Nakta.