Akshay Azad
Jammu, Dec 12: The Jammu and Kashmir government has initiated process for constitution of much awaited Law Commission, which will review and repeal obsolete laws, make amendments and also review the law books.
Sources informed Early Times that the file pertaining to constitution of Law Commission had been submitted by Law department to Planning and Development Department for getting concurrence. "After getting concurrence of Planning and Development department same would be forwarded to Finance department for financial concurrence", they said.
They further said that various quarters and expert groups of various departments have recommended for periodic revision of laws in force with the purpose of assessing their utility, relevance or irrelevance in the context of changing times.
"The announcement for constitution of Law Commission was made by Minister of Finance on the floor of the Legislative Assembly way back in 2011 and then by Law Minister in budget session but the proposal plan was not materialized due to some unknown reasons", sources said.
Elaborating about the task of proposed Law Commission, sources said, the Law Commission would broadly review and repeal obsolete laws. "It will identify laws that are no longer needed or relevant and can be immediately repealed", they said, adding that the Commission would also identify laws, which otherwise require changes or amendments.
Moreover, sources said, it would also make suggestions for their amendment, consider in a wider perspective the suggestions for revision/amendment given by expert groups in various Ministries/departments with a view to coordinate and harmonize them, consider references made to it by the ministries/departments in respect of legislation having bearing on the working of more than one department.
An official seeking anonymity said that time and again demand was raised for revisiting the corpus of laws promulgated in the state from time to time. "Some of the laws have become redundant while others need amendment or updating according to the ground situation. Moreover, Legal groups were formed at various departments, which have given their opinion, seeking reformation of existing laws in the state", he said, adding that it could only be done by constituting a Law commission.
While admitting the proposal, Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Mir Saifullah said that the file pertaining to constitution of Law Commission has been forwarded to Planning Department. "Though the structure of Commission has not finalized but once we get Planning department's concurrence, the structure of Commission will also be finalized", he said. |
