New Delhi, Oct 22: Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan on Thursday called for stronger coordination between the Centre and States in legal reforms, saying political differences should not come in the way of working together for the larger public interest. Inaugurating a conference on ‘Co-operative Federalism and Law Reforms: National and State Perspective’, organised by the Law Commission of India at Vigyan Bhawan here, he said India’s strength lay in its unity in diversity, with the Constitution balancing the powers of the Union and the legitimate autonomy of States.
The Vice-President said cooperative and competitive federalism under the vision of ‘Team India’ required consultation, coordination and shared responsibility between the Centre and States. Emphasising the importance of legal reforms in achieving Viksit Bharat by 2047, he said development must be backed by sound laws, transparent institutions, efficient administration and access to justice for all.
Vice President Radhakrishnan cited the replacement of three colonial-era criminal laws and the repeal of more than 1,700 obsolete laws over the past 12 years as significant steps towards modernising the country’s legal framework. He urged State Law Commissions to identify outdated laws and recommend their amendment or repeal to improve ease of living and governance.
Stressing that cooperative federalism did not mean uniformity in every matter, he said the Centre and States should work together in areas where their constitutional responsibilities converged while allowing States sufficient space to address their specific needs.
He called for greater coordination among the Law Commission of India, State Law Commissions and State Law Departments through inter-State consultations, the sharing of best practices and systematic reviews of outdated laws.
Referring to the Sengol installed in Parliament as a symbol of righteous authority and ethical governance, the Vice-President invoked the teachings of Tamil saint-poet Thiruvalluvar on good governance and the rule of law. He expressed hope that the conference would produce concrete recommendations for a coherent, responsive and citizen-centric legal framework.
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal, Law Commission of India Chairperson Justice Dinesh Maheshwari, Member Secretary Dr Anju Rathi Rana and Commission member Prof. D. P. Verma were among those present.
