Photo for representational purpose.
All central government secretaries were today asked to give justification before they propose a new legislation.
As per the new directives of the Cabinet Secretariat, all departments will have to explain in detail why a new law need to be enacted and why the purpose cannot be solved through existing laws or via an executive order.
As per existing norms, each note for consideration of the Cabinet or Cabinet Committees should contain a justification paragraph in which the rationale of the proposal is to be brought out.
"It has been decided that, henceforth, the ministries and departments are also required to bring out clearly, in the justification paragraph of any Cabinet note proposing a new legislation, the essentiality of the legislation being proposed and the reasons why the purpose cannot be served through existing legislation or by framing subordinate legislation or through executive orders etc," the Cabinet Secretariat said in a directive to all the secretaries.
All secretaries have been asked to strictly adhere to the new directives.
The Cabinet Secretariat has already started the process of scrutinising all bills before these are introduced in Parliament.
In an earlier communication from the Cabinet Secretariat, all ministries were requested to send to it proposals seeking approval of the Cabinet for proposed legislation to be introduced in Parliament well before commencement of a session to enable proper scrutiny.
The ministries were asked to ensure that any such proposal is sent to the Cabinet Secretariat well in time, after completing all procedural requirements including requisite inter-ministerial consultations.
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