Parliament has successfully cleared a bill aimed at repealing 71 obsolete laws and streamlining the legal framework, marking a significant step towards simplifying legal processes and improving the ease of living for citizens. The legislation, known as the Repealing and Amending Bill 2025, was recently passed by the Lok Sabha. This initiative is part of the government's broader focus on decluttering statute books and promoting good governance.
The bill repeals 71 Acts, many of which date back to the colonial era, and amends four others to remove inconsistencies and update legal terminology. According to Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, this progressive legislation is designed to remove outdated statutes, correct errors in the law-making process, and eliminate discriminatory provisions. The repeals include Acts such as the Indian Tramways Act, 1886, the Levy Sugar Price Equalisation Fund Act, 1976, and the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (Determination of Conditions of Service of Employees) Act, 1988. Of the 71 acts, 65 are Amendment Acts whose changes are already incorporated into principal laws, making their continuation unnecessary.
In addition to repealing obsolete laws, the bill amends four key acts. These include the General Clauses Act, 1897, and the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, to modernize references related to registered posts. Furthermore, it amends the Indian Succession Act, 1925, to remove the requirement for court validation of wills in certain cases, thereby easing procedural hurdles. The Disaster Management Act, 2005, is also amended to rectify a drafting error.
The government has emphasized that this bill is part of an ongoing effort to clean up the statute book and move away from a colonial legal mindset towards a citizen-centric framework. Since May 2014, over 1,577 obsolete laws have been repealed, and more than 40,000 compliance requirements have been reduced. Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal highlighted that the government has been consistently repealing archaic laws to declutter statute books since May 2014. He also pointed out that the changes are aimed at reversing the effects of colonization.
The passage of the Repealing and Amending Bill 2025 is expected to promote ease of doing business and improve the ease of living for citizens. By removing outdated and irrelevant laws, the government aims to create a more streamlined and accessible legal environment. This initiative reflects a commitment to "minimum government, maximum governance" and aligns with the vision of a developed India.
