Vice-President calls for stronger Centre-State coordination for legal reforms

Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan on Thursday (October 22, 2026) urged States to review and repeal outdated laws to improve governance and ease of living, stressing that legal reforms must keep pace with changing times.

Mr. Radhakrishnan was speaking during the inauguration of a conference on ‘Cooperative Federalism and Law Reforms: National and State Perspectives’, organised by the Law Commission of India.

Dignified life

“The ultimate purpose of law is to ensure a just, secure and dignified life for every citizen,” he said.

Emphasising the need for greater coordination between the Centre and States, the Vice-President said that political differences should not come in the way of public interest.

He also highlighted the importance of consultation, coordination and shared responsibility under the spirit of ‘Team India’, while respecting the constitutional autonomy of States.

Towards ‘Viksit Bharat’

Stating that effective legal reforms were essential to achieving the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’, he added that development required sound laws, transparent institutions, efficient administration and access to justice.

Highlighting recent changes to the legal framework, he cited the replacement of three colonial-era criminal laws and the repeal of more than 1,700 obsolete laws over the past 12 years.

Noting that cooperative federalism did not mean uniformity in every matter, he stressed that States must retain the flexibility to address their specific needs while working with the Union on shared constitutional responsibilities.

He also urged State Law Commissions to identify outdated legislation and recommend amendments or repeal wherever necessary.

Union Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal, Law Commission chairperson Justice Dinesh Maheshwari were also present in the event.