Parliament Passes Bill To Repeal, Amend 71 Laws
“These reforms are a step towards liberation from a colonial mindset”: Union law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal
NEW DELHI: Parliament on Wednesday passed a Bill to repeal or amend 71 obsolete and outdated laws with the stated objective of enhancing the ease of living for citizens.
The Repealing and Amending Bill, 2025, was passed by voice vote in the Rajya Sabha after it had been approved by the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. Introducing the legislation in the Upper House, said the Bill aims to remove redundant laws, correct drafting errors and eliminate discriminatory provisions that had crept into Union law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal certain statutes over time.
Replying to the debate, the minister said improving ease of living was a key priority alongside ease of doing business. “If laws have become obsolete, the government will bring legislation to repeal them,” he said.
Citing the Indian Succession Act, 1925, Meghwal pointed out that wills made by Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jains and Parsis in the former Madras, Bombay and Calcutta presidencies required probate, while a similar requirement did not apply to Muslims. “Any discrimination on the basis of religion, caste or sex is prohibited by the Constitution,” he said, adding that the Narendra Modi government was committed to constitutional principles.
“These reforms are a step towards liberation from a colonial mindset,” the minister said, noting that since 2014, as many as 1,577 archaic laws had been repealed or amended, including the repeal of 1,562 Acts and the re-enactment of 15.
Congress MP Vivek K. Tankha, however, disputed the government’s claim that the Bill marked a break from colonial practices, alleging that it amounted largely to paperwork and technical formalities without adequately assessing its impact on people.
BJP MP Subhash Barala said the removal of outdated laws would ease the difficulties faced by citizens. TMC MP Sushmita Dev said the legislation offered an opportunity to review provisions that worked against civil liberties, democracy and dissent.
Several other MPs, including K.R.N. Rajeshkumar (DMK), Subash Chandra Bose Pilli (YSRC), Niranjan Bishi (BJD), M. Thambidurai (AIADMK), A.A. Rahim (CPM) and Mahua Maji (JMM), also participated in the discussion.
The Bill seeks to repeal 71 Acts, including 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.
It also proposes amendments to four laws, the General Clauses Act, 1897, the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, and the Indian Succession Act, 1925, to update terminologies and remove the requirement of court validation of wills in certain cases. In addition, it amends the Disaster Management Act, 2005, to rectify a drafting error.
