Nearly a year after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced self-attestation, nothing seems to have changed on the ground. In an interview to Express, Union Minister of Law and Justice D V Sadananda Gowda said that they are still in the process of listing documents that can be self-attested. He talks about Article 370, the Railway budget, obsolete laws and Central funds for states. Excerpts
The Prime Minister said that self-attestation is sufficient. Is there any forward movement on this reform?
We have to involve the Home Ministry in this matter. All documents cannot be self-attested. Discussions are in the initial stages. We are discussing which documents can be self-attested and which need court attestation or a gazetted officer’s. We are working on it. It is the need of the hour so that the common man gets relief. It will be done in the next two to three months.
What about your promise on Article 370 (according special status to J&K) and the Uniform Civil Code?
They require a wider consultation. The time is not ripe for these; they are sensitive issues. We need to take them up slowly. We have been mandated for five years. Everybody expects everything to be done in the first year itself. The first thing on our agenda is development and good governance. We are working on this, and other issues will also be taken up simultaneously.
What progress has been made on abrogating obsolete laws?
The two-member committee appointed by the Prime Minister has identified 1,741 such laws. I have moved Bills to repeal the old dead laws. Some are yet to be cleared by the Rajya Sabha, including the Railway Appropriation Bill. In the coming days, more such laws will be repealed. I have also written to all state chief ministers to repeal dead laws that can be done only by states.
Are you doing away with the Railway Budget?
The Bibek Debroy Committee, earlier appointed by me, has recommended it. The PM will take a final call. In all probability, the recommendations will be respected.
Don’t you think the confrontation with the Opposition on the Land Acquisition Bill could have been avoided?
We are not sitting on ego. Whatever decision the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) takes will be respected. I don’t wish to comment as the JPC is looking into the matter.
Will there be no appointment of judges till the National Judicial Appointments Commission comes into effect?
There is neither a collegium nor NJAC, so there will be no appointments. The court has held that temporary judges who have retired in various high courts could be continued for another three months. I appreciate the courts because they have been working on this matter really quickly, even during the vacation.
The state government has alleged that the NDA government has cut funds for Centrally sponsored schemes.
It isn’t true. The flow of money to states after the 14th Finance Commission has increased three-fold. But if any state, including Karnataka, has any issue on this, they can still avail the funds on the basis of 13th Finance Commission. But none have opted for it as the money is much less.
Delhi’s law minister was arrested for allegedly getting a fake degree certificate. There are similar charges against HRD Minister Smriti Irani.
I don’t think both are similar cases. If the case is genuine, the police could have acted by now against Smriti. As far as (Jitender) Tomar is concerned, the police are investigating. It is not appropriate to comment on the matter at this juncture.
