Law Commission Opens Cooperative Federalism and Law Reforms Meet

Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan opened a national conference titled 'Co-operative Federalism and Law Reforms: National and State Perspectives' at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on 22 October 2026. The Law Commission of India hosted it, bringing the Union and the States on to one platform to look again at the statute book.

Clearing out outdated laws

Legal reform, the Vice-President said, has to move with the times. He cited two measures of the past twelve years: three criminal laws inherited from colonial rule have been replaced, and more than 1,700 laws that had outlived their use have been taken off the books. He asked State Law Commissions to list the outdated statutes in their own States and recommend that each be amended or repealed, so that administration gets simpler and living gets easier.

The 'Team India' idea of federalism

India's deepest strength, he said, is its unity in diversity, and the Constitution supplies the frame that holds the authority of the Union together with the responsibilities and the legitimate autonomy of the States. He described 'Team India' as a working method rather than a slogan, resting on consultation, joint planning and shared responsibility, and said party differences must never be allowed to block the wider public interest. Cooperative federalism in law-making, he added, does not demand one uniform law on every subject: the two levels should act together where their constitutional duties overlap, while each State keeps the room it needs to answer local conditions. He asked for closer working links between the Law Commission of India, the State Law Commissions and State law departments, through consultation across States, exchange of good practice and a regular review of dated legislation.

Law and Viksit Bharat @2047

Tying reform to Viksit Bharat @2047, he said growth rests on sound law, institutions that work in the open, administration that is efficient and justice that ordinary citizens can actually reach. He pointed to the Sengol placed in Parliament as a mark of righteous authority and ethical rule, and recalled the Tamil saint-poet Thiruvalluvar on governance and the rule of law, saying it is governing well, not merely holding office, that endures.

Who was there

Among those present were the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal; the Chairperson of the Law Commission of India, Justice Dinesh Maheshwari; its Member Secretary, Dr Anju Rathi Rana; and its Member, Prof D. P. Verma. The Vice-President said he expected the conference to send up firm, workable recommendations for a legal framework that is coherent, responsive and built around the citizen.