The Repealing and Amending Bill, 2025: Modernizing the Statute Book and Rationalizing Governance
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Ministry of Law and Justice
Introduced in the Lok Sabha on December 15, 2025, The Repealing and Amending Bill, 2025, is a periodical legislative measure designed to “clean up” the statute book by repealing obsolete laws and correcting formal defects in existing enactments. The Bill, presented by Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, seeks to enhance administrative efficiency and legal clarity.
Key Legislative Actions:
Repeal of Obsolete Acts: The First Schedule lists 71 enactments to be repealed. These include antiquated laws like The Indian Tramways Act, 1886, and numerous amendment Acts from 2016 to 2023 (e.g., Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017) that are no longer necessary as separate entities after being integrated into principal Acts.
Rationalizing Service Delivery (Postal Merger): The Second Schedule proposes amendments to the General Clauses Act, 1897 and the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908. Following the rationalization of postal services, the term “registered post” is being replaced with “speed post with registration”.
Removal of Discriminatory Provisions: The Bill proposes the omission of section 213 of the Indian Succession Act, 1925. This section is considered discriminatory as it required certain religious groups (Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jains, and Parsis) to obtain probate for Wills made in specific metropolitan areas (Calcutta, Madras, Bombay), a requirement not applied to others.
Correction of Inadvertent Errors: In the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the word “prevention” is being replaced with “preparation” in section 30 to accurately reflect the functional intent of District Authorities in drafting disaster management plans.
What is a Repealing and Amending Bill? A Repealing and Amending Bill is a standard parliamentary tool used to remove “spent” or redundant laws from the statute book and to rectify minor drafting errors or inconsistencies in existing laws. It is part of a broader government effort to reduce regulatory clutter and simplify the legal system.
Policy Relevance
The introduction of this Bill is a critical component of the government’s Ease of Doing Business and Minimum Government, Maximum Governance agenda. By systematically purging the legal system of redundant laws and colonial-era relics (like parts of the Indian Succession Act), the Bill directly impacts administrative efficiency.
Reducing Compliance Burden: Repealing obsolete amendment Acts simplifies the legal research process for businesses and citizens by ensuring only current, integrated laws are active.
Legal Uniformity: The removal of section 213 of the Succession Act promotes the constitutional principle of equality before the law by eliminating religiously discriminatory probate requirements.
Operational Accuracy: Formal amendments, such as updating the “registered post” terminology, ensure that legal processes (like the service of summons) remain consistent with the modernized infrastructure of the Department of Posts.
Follow the full news here: THE REPEALING AND AMENDING BILL, 2025