Vice‑President urges states to ditch outdated laws for better governance

Vice‑President C.P. Radhakrishnan called on state governments on Thursday to scrap antiquated statutes that hinder smooth administration. Speaking at the launch of a conference on cooperative federalism and law reforms in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, he said the gathering was organised by the Law Commission of India. He warned that political rivalry should not block actions that serve the public good and highlighted the need for constant dialogue and shared responsibility under the banner of ‘Team India’. While stressing that the Constitution gives states autonomy, he noted that cooperative federalism does not require every issue to be handled identically across the country. Radhakrishnan pointed to recent steps such as replacing three colonial‑era criminal codes and scrapping more than 1,700 obsolete laws in the last twelve years as proof that legal change is possible. He linked effective legal reform to the vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’, arguing that progress depends on clear statutes, open institutions, efficient administration and easy access to justice. The Vice‑President urged each State Law Commission to audit local statutes, suggest updates or repeal where necessary. Union Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal and Law Commission chair Justice Dinesh Maheshwari attended the event. ## Context Cooperative federalism aims to balance national goals with state‑specific needs, allowing regions to tailor laws while cooperating on matters that affect the whole nation.