On Monday, Lok Sabha approved The Repealing and Amending (Second) Bill, 2014 that was initiated to repeal outdated laws. The bill obtained the approval of the Sabha after getting guarantee from D V Sadananda Gowda that the bill is not necessary to be sent to the Standing Committee as it does not contain major acts. The decision was taken by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to rescind the laws that are out of date. Yet another bill is under preparation for amending some more obsolete legislation, the Minister said. Some of the laws like Arbitration Act, Motor Vehicles Act etc need alterations to reduce the work load of Courts and the Government is on the move to amend these laws.
Out of 90 legislations, 88 are completely repealed and two of them are amended. The changes that are made are included into the principal legislation as well. The (Amendment) Act, 2008 and Indian Maritime University Act, 2008 will be amended to correct printing mistakes. Even though there were difference of opinion from Congress and CPI (M), the Government made the bill pass with voice-vote. The CPM leaders were of the opinion that there exists some lacunae and inconsistency if the bill is passed in hurry. There is a chance of altering Constitution as such. It is better to have serious research on the issue to stay away from regrets in future, the leaders added.
M Veerappa Moily, former Law Minister expressed his view to send the bill to Standing Committee instead of approving it urgently. But the Law Minister said that the Bill surely does not contain any principal enactments and just the amending bills are under discussion. If the amendments were sought for the principal acts, then it would have certainly referred to the Standing Committee. The Law Commission also suggested that these enactments are outdated and unnecessary and hence should be repealed. There are many more laws that are proposed to be repealed and amended and the Government will take steps for the cancellation of such laws in the second phase.