NewKerala.com

Maharashtra Scraps 80 Archaic Laws, Including 1825 Bengal Regulation

The Maharashtra Legislative Assembly passed a bill to repeal 80 obsolete Acts and laws, a move aimed at strengthening governance and streamlining administration. Minister Ashish Shelar stated the repeal was necessary as constitutional changes and new laws had rendered many old Acts redundant. The repealed laws include historic regulations like The Bengal Alluvion and Diluvion Regulation of 1825 and various Bombay Acts. Separately, the government announced the appointment of a Nodal Officer to ensure time-bound implementation of the State Human Rights Commission's recommendations.

Key Points: Maharashtra Repeals 80 Obsolete Laws to Streamline Governance

  • Repeals 80 obsolete Acts
  • Removes ambiguity in governance
  • Includes laws from 1825
  • Appoints Nodal Officer for human rights recommendations
2 min read

Maha Assembly passes bill to repeal 80 obsolete laws​

Maharashtra Assembly passes bill to repeal 80 outdated Acts, including 19th-century regulations, to remove ambiguity and strengthen administrative processes.

"retaining references to such outdated laws was creating ambiguity in governance - Minister Ashish Shelar"

Mumbai, March 17

A Bill to repeal 80 obsolete Acts and laws in Maharashtra was passed in the Legislative Assembly today, marking a significant step towards strengthening good governance and streamlining administrative processes. ​

The Maharashtra Repealing Bill, 2026 (Assembly Bill No. 17), aimed at repealing outdated Acts in the state, was introduced by Minister of General Administration Ashish Shelar. ​

After a detailed discussion, the Bill was passed by the House.​

Presenting the government's stance, Minister Shelar said that, due to constitutional changes, state reorganisation, and the enactment of new laws, several Acts in Maharashtra had become obsolete.

He said retaining references to such outdated laws was creating ambiguity in governance. ​

To address this, the state government undertook a comprehensive review of all existing state laws and decided to repeal those no longer in use, including Acts and Regulations from the Bombay, Bengal, Central Provinces & Berar, Hyderabad and Madhya Pradesh regions.​

Minister Shelar informed the House that the total of 80 repealed laws includes 24 Bombay Acts, 8 Central Provinces & Berar Acts, 18 Hyderabad Acts, 3 Madhya Pradesh Acts and 24 Appropriation Acts. ​

Among the repealed laws are several outdated legislations such as The Bengal Alluvion and Diluvion Regulation, 1825; The Acknowledgements of Debts, Interest, Mortgages Regulation, 1827; The Broach and Kaira Encumbered Estates Act, 1877; The Bombay Abkari Act, 1878; The Borstal Schools Act, 1929; The Maharashtra Opium Smoking Act; The Bombay Fodder and Grain Control Act, 1939; The Bombay Cotton Control Act, 1942; and The Bombay Abolition of Whipping Act, 1957.​

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Home Yogesh Kadam informed the Assembly during Question Hour that the state government has taken a significant step toward the time‑bound implementation of the State Human Rights Commission's (SHRC) recommendations by appointing a Nodal Officer. ​

He said the government is positive about establishing a separate budget head and an online portal to bring transparency to the process. ​

The issue was raised through a question by MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar.​

Minister Kadam said a Nodal Officer at the Deputy Secretary level has been appointed and that action will be taken on 30 cases currently pending with the Commission. ​

He said a separate budget head could be created to implement these recommendations under the Chief Minister's guidance. ​

He added that the government is considering launching a dedicated online portal so complainants can track the status of their applications and recommendations, an initiative aimed at bringing greater clarity to administrative operations.​

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Good governance move. But I hope this isn't just a one-time cleanup. There should be a permanent mechanism to review laws every 5-10 years so we don't accumulate deadwood again. The online portal for SHRC recommendations is also a welcome transparency measure.
V
Vikram M
Repealing 80 laws sounds impressive, but the real test is implementation. Will this actually speed up government work for the common man? Removing ambiguity is good, but we need to see results on the ground. The focus should now be on simplifying the remaining laws.
S
Sarah B
As someone who has worked with legal frameworks here, this is a huge relief. The Bombay Abkari Act, 1878? Really shows how much legacy clutter exists. Streamlining this will make it easier for businesses and citizens to understand what actually applies to them.
R
Rohit P
Finally! The Borstal Schools Act from 1929... why was that even still on the books? This is a step towards 'Minimum Government, Maximum Governance'. Hope it leads to faster decision-making in the administration. Kudos for the comprehensive review.
N
Nikhil C
A respectful criticism: While removing old laws is good, what about enacting new, progressive ones? We need forward-looking legislation on tech, environment, and urban planning. Cleaning the past is half the job; building the future is the other half.
M

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50