(a) whether the Government is in process of review/repeal of number of archaic laws including some State laws;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has also sought comments from State Governments in repealing the State laws;
(d) if so, the response of the State Governments thereto; and
(e) the time by which a final decision is to be taken in this regard?
MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE D.V.SADANANDA COWDA)
(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House. Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (e) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 113 for answer on 24/11/2014 regarding `Reforms in Archaic Laws`.
(a) to (e): Yes, Madam. Review and repeal of out-dated/obsolete laws, including those enacted during the British era, is a con- tinuous process. The Repealing and the Amending Bill, 2014 was introduced in Lok Sabha on 11th August, 2014 for repeal of 36 Acts, out of which, four Acts were suggested by the other Mini- stries/Departments. The said Bill has been referred to Department- related Parliamentary Standing Committee.
2. The Legislative Department has prepared draft Repealing and Amending (Second) Bill, 2014 for repeal of 287 amendments Acts from the year 1999 to 2013 and forwarded the same to all Ministries/ Departments for their comments/views. The comments are still awaited.
3. The Law Commission has recently submitted its 248th, 249th 250th and the 251s1 Reports on `Obsolete Laws: Warranting Immediate Repeal`), in which it recommended for repeal of 72, 113, 74 and 30 obsolete Acts respectively, including some State laws. The said Reports are available on the website of the Law Commission at http://lawcommissionofindia.nic.in/. The Legislative Department has examined the said Reports and letters have been issued to Ministries/Departments and the State Governments seeking their comments and also asking them to take necessary action. The replies are still awaited. The final decision will be taken only after receiving the comments from the State Governments in this regard.
4. Tn the meanwhile, the Legislative Department has identified and prepared a list of the 892 Appropriation Acts [including the Appropriation (Railways)] enacted by Parliament from the year 1950 till 2012 and have been sent to the Department of Expenditure and Ministry of Railways for their comments. The Ministiy of Railways has agreed with the views of the Legislative Department subject to the comments/views of the Ministry of Finance, comments of which arc still awaited.