The Journey Of A Law
THE WEEK|January 07, 2018

The conception to birth of a law is a fascinating journey in a democracy like India, where many factors shape and reshape a draft into an act of Parliament.

Sachidananda Murthy
The Journey Of A Law

Despite all the disruptions and shortened sessions, the legislature of the country has an enviable record in passing laws in the last two decades. Dozens of bills have been introduced by various ministries to bring in new laws or to make significant changes to existing ones.

Many laws are mooted within the government because of various reasons—a changed economic or social situation; the need to incorporate or negate judgments of the judiciary; to fulfil promises made by the government; or to increase financial and other limits.

In their book Shaping Policy in India: Alliance, Advocacy, Activism, Rajesh Chakrabarti and Kaushiki Sanyal, who run the public policy consulting firm Sunay Policy Advisory, have written about the activism and lobbying that have birthed nine important laws of recent years. The 21st century has been an epochal era in Indian politics, when the coalition governments of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh had to introduce extraordinary laws to meet the new aspirations of people.

This story is from the January 07, 2018 edition of THE WEEK.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the January 07, 2018 edition of THE WEEK.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM THE WEEKView All
BIOPIC AND BEYOND
THE WEEK India

BIOPIC AND BEYOND

Randeep Hooda may have proved his acting credentials with biopics, but typecast him at your own peril

time-read
4 mins  |
April 28, 2024
Flutter of flimsy wings
THE WEEK India

Flutter of flimsy wings

Butterfly Research Centre in Bhimtal boasts 3,500 butterfly and moth specimens

time-read
2 mins  |
April 28, 2024
SIMILAR STATES, DIFFERENT BATTLES
THE WEEK India

SIMILAR STATES, DIFFERENT BATTLES

The Congress seems to have the edge in Telangana while in Andhra Pradesh, Chandrababu Naidu and Jagan Mohan Reddy are locked in a bitter battle

time-read
10 mins  |
April 28, 2024
A RIDE TO REMEMBER
THE WEEK India

A RIDE TO REMEMBER

On board Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s bus as he was attacked

time-read
5 mins  |
April 28, 2024
Winning 14 of 17 seats is my target
THE WEEK India

Winning 14 of 17 seats is my target

Anumula Revanth Reddy is on a mission to demonstrate a democratic and egalitarian facet of power and leadership.

time-read
6 mins  |
April 28, 2024
LOTUS TAKES ROOT
THE WEEK India

LOTUS TAKES ROOT

Buoyed by its slowly growing acceptance among the voters in Tamil Nadu, the BJP is mounting its fiercest offensive ever

time-read
4 mins  |
April 28, 2024
BLANK CHECK
THE WEEK India

BLANK CHECK

Several factors favour an increase in the BJP’s vote share in Kerala, but whether the party can win a seat remains uncertain

time-read
5 mins  |
April 28, 2024
CONGRESS HAS A HISTORY OF MAKING ADJUSTMENTS WITH COMMUNAL FORCES
THE WEEK India

CONGRESS HAS A HISTORY OF MAKING ADJUSTMENTS WITH COMMUNAL FORCES

In April 2021, as Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was leading the CPI(M)’s assembly poll campaign to win a second consecutive term, a spirited debate erupted in Kerala over an epithet that party workers had bestowed on him.

time-read
6 mins  |
April 28, 2024
POLL PLOT
THE WEEK India

POLL PLOT

Congress hopes its five guarantees’ will blunt BJP’s aggressive push

time-read
4 mins  |
April 28, 2024
MODI'S GUARANTEES REMAIN IN SPEECHES, MY GUARANTEES ARE FULFILLED
THE WEEK India

MODI'S GUARANTEES REMAIN IN SPEECHES, MY GUARANTEES ARE FULFILLED

The transformation is unmissable. The old-school mass leader Siddaramaiah has suddenly switched into the new avatar of a master strategist.

time-read
6 mins  |
April 28, 2024