Lok Sabha Question No. 2110 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-12
Subject: Pre-Legislative Consultation Policy, 2014
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Shri Praveen Patel, Shri Nalin Soren, Smt. Smita Uday Wagh, Shri P P Chaudhary, Shri Mahendra Singh Solanky, Dr. Nishikant Dubey

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2110

## TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 12 TH  DECEMBER, 2025

## PRE-LEGISLATIVE CONSULTATION POLICY, 2014

2110. Shri Praveen Patel:

Shri Nalin Soren:

Smt. Smita Uday Wagh:

Shri P P Chaudhary:

Shri Mahendra Singh Solanky:

Dr. Nishikant Dubey:

Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  recently  reviewed  the  effectiveness  of  the  Pre-Legislative Consultation Policy of 2014;
- (b) if so, the details of compliance by Ministries/Departments over the last three years;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  strengthen  the  Legislative  Impact  Assessment  (LIA) framework to make socio-economic, environmental and institutional impact analysis mandatory for all major legislative proposals;
- (d) if so, the details of the steps proposed to be taken;
- (e)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  introduce  a  statutory  mandate  for  pre-legislative consultation and legislative impact assessment to ensure uniformity across Ministries; and (f) if so, the details thereof?

## A N S W E R

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS

## (SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)

(a) to (f): No such evaluation of effectiveness of the Pre-legislative Consultation Policy, 2014 has  been  conducted  and  no  record  relating  to  compliance  of  Pre-legislative  Consultation  by Ministries is maintained.

As per chapter 9 of the Manual of Parliamentary Procedure, it is provided that the concerned Ministry/Department has to formulate the legislative proposals in consultation with all the interests and  authorities  concerned,  including  holding  discussions  on  the  necessity  for  the  proposed legislation and on all matter of substance to be embodied therein.

Further, Pre-legislative Consultation Policy was formulated by the Committee of Secretaries under the Chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary in the meeting held on 10 th January, 2014. In order to give effect to the decision of that Committee, Legislative Department has circulated the said Policy to all Ministries/Departments for strict adherence and compliance thereof.

There is no proposal of the Government to make the Pre-legislative consultations and the Legislative Impact  Assessment  mandatory  for  all  major  legislative proposals.  Under  the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961, each Ministry/ Department has been allocated subject matters on which that Ministry/ Department initiates, processes and implements legislative proposals and also studies social, economic, environmental and institutional impact of such laws, post their enactment.

The  Ministry/Department  concerned  with  the  subject  matter  initiates  pre-legislative consultations, holds deliberations with the public and all stakeholders and on that basis, finalises its legislative policy. After inter-ministerial consultations and finalisation of the legislative policy, the Bill is drafted and introduced in Parliament.

The Ministry/Department concerned with the subject matter carries out the post-legislative scrutiny of the legislation on the basis of inputs, suggestions and feedback received from the public, experts and other stakeholders; takes appropriate decision for modifications, if any.

Further,  as  part  of  Government  initiative  to  bring  reforms  in  the  legal  system,  the  Law Commission of India has also been mandated to review and suggest reforms in the laws of the country. As per notification dated 02.09.2024, the Twenty-third Law Commission of India was constituted with the mandate, inter-alia to, -

(i) identify laws which are no longer needed or relevant and can be immediately repealed.

(ii) identify laws which are not in harmony with the economic needs and requirements of the times and require amendments.

(iii) identify laws which otherwise require changes or amendments and to make suggestions for their amendment.

(iv) consider in a wider perspective the suggestions for revision/amendment in laws given by Expert Groups in various Ministries/Departments with a view to coordinating and harmonizing them.

(v) examine the laws which affect the poor and carry out post enactment-audit for socioeconomic legislations.

(vi) examine the existing laws in the light of Directive Principles of State Policy and to suggest  ways  of  improvement  and  reform  and  also  to  suggest  such  legislations  as  might  be necessary to implement the Directive Principles and to attain the objectives set out in the Preamble of the Constitution. (vii) examine the existing laws with a view for promoting gender equality and suggesting amendments thereto. (viii) revise the Central Acts of general importance so as to simplify them and to remove anomalies, ambiguities and inequities.

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