Panel for repeal of 1,300 laws

NEW DELHI, Sept 30 (PTI) — The commission on review of administrative laws today submitted its final report to Cabinet Secretary Prabhat Kumar recommending, among other things, repeal of over 1300 central laws, including 115 Acts relating to state subjects.

The report has suggested a review of all pre-Constitution laws to bring these in line with present requirements. It also prepared a "critical list" of 110 laws for which expeditious amendments should be considered.

Receiving the report, the Cabinet Secretary appreciated the efforts of the committee in finalising its recommendations within a short span of time and assured that the government would examine its recommendations for expeditious decision.

The four-member commission headed by Mr PC Jain, was constituted this May to examine steps taken by various ministries and departments to review administrative laws, regulations and procedures administered by them and recommend follow-up action for repeal and amendment.

Other members of the commission were Mr HD Shourie, Chairman of ‘Common Cause’, Mr S Ramaiah, former Secretary, Legislative Department and Dr PSA Sundaram, Additional Secretary, Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances.

The panel formulated specific proposals on regulatory frameworks relating to 13 sectors, including housing and urban development, land acquisition, sick industrial units, company law, non-banking financing companies, foreign investment, essential commodities, health sector, environment, industry, labour laws, taxation, consumer protection, import-export and administration of justice.

It drew attention to the accumulation of an estimated backlog of about 28 million cases and recommended expansion of the system of alternate disputes resolution and use of self-regulatory mechanism by trade and industry.

The commission suggested the compilation of up-to-date information on rules, regulations, orders and procedures under different central laws by different ministries and departments and called for studying the entire complex of laws affecting the life of the poor and disadvantaged sections of society.

It also recommended unification and harmonisation of statutes, laws and regulations with reference to the perspective of domestic and foreign investors, trade and industry, consumers, builders, exporters and importers.

The panel made the recommendations on the basis of its task to identify proposals for amending the existing laws, regulations and procedures and common laws existing in more than one department or ministries or state governments.