House panel recommends sunset clause in future laws

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 16

A parliamentary committee today lauded the government for repealing 1,486 obsolete and redundant laws between 2014 and February 4, 2021, and called for exploration of a sunset clause in all future legislations.

Sunset clause provides for automatic repeal of provisions of law once a certain date is reached

A sunset clause provides for automatic repeal of provisions of the law or sections of it once a certain date is reached.

“More laws are required to be identified and repealed with broader political consensus. The committee believes laws prevalent in any country should reflect current situation in society and polity and be in consonance with changing times. We recommend that the government should review and scrutinise laws which no longer serve their purpose and intended objectives from time to time with suggestions from all stakeholders and general masses and take initiative for their repealing,” the panel on law and justice said today.

It recommended that the government may explore the provision of including sunset clause in all proposed legislations.

The panel on law and justice today also questioned 50 per cent vacancies in the legislative department of the government and its two wings. “It is seen that out of 232 sanctioned posts in the department, 91 posts are lying vacant. In Vidhi Sahitya Prakashan, 26 of the 75 sanctioned posts are lying vacant. Even in official languages wing, 56 of the 154 sanctioned posts were vacant till December 31, 2020. Having large vacancies impedes the smooth and efficient functioning of the organisation,” the committee said, adding that legislation is one of the instruments of articulating the policy of the government.