Lucknow, July 7: The Uttar Pradesh government is planning to revoke 138 British-era legislations that it believes are no longer relevant.
The legislative department has written to over 40 departments, requesting their view on whether these laws should be preserved in their current form, and if so, to cite a “convincing reason” for doing so.
An official from the Chief Minister’s Office stated that the drive was part of a bigger effort to repeal outdated legislation.
The state government has previously repealed some such laws and altered rules to make them more current. The Centre has also written to the state, requesting action on the issue.
Another state official stated that 138 British Era rules apply to more than 40 departments. “A letter has been sent to the heads of the relevant departments, requesting their thoughts on the matter. The departments will have to provide a very compelling reason for the government to consider their request to keep these laws in their current state,” he added.
The official went on to say that failure to offer any explanation for keeping the legislation or not modifying it in its current form would be interpreted as the department’s approval to repeal the law.
The official cited the Imperial Legislative Council’s passage of the Indian Partnership Act in 1932 as an example.
Except for Jammu and Kashmir, the Act governs the operation of a partnership firm across India. “The law was passed in 1932. Since then, India as a country has matured, business practises have altered, and the challenges ahead of us are vastly different.
As a result, such a statute must now be abolished and replaced with a new law that answers the concerns of today’s stakeholders,” the official stated.
