Chandigarh, September 26 – Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker Sh. Harvinder Kalyan said legislative drafting is a very important subject. It means converting policy into formal and legal language so that it emerges as clear, precise and easily understandable law. The language in legislative drafting should be such that any citizen can clearly understand what is written. The choice of words should be such that there are no two different meanings of the same thing. And the entire law should be prepared in a uniform rule and style i.e. there should be consistency.
Sh. Harvinder Kalyan was addressing a two-day training programme on the subject of Legislative Drafting and Capacity Building organized by the Haryana Vidhan Sabha in collaboration with the Institute of Constitutional and Parliamentary Studies of the Lok Sabha at Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration, Sector-26, Chandigarh.
The workshop was inaugurated by Lok Sabha Speaker Sh. Om Birla. On this occasion, Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini, Karnataka Vidhan Sabha Speaker Sh. U.T. Khader Fareed, and Haryana Vidhan Sabha Deputy Speaker Dr. Krishan Lal Middha were present.
The Speaker said that today’s event is not just a training session, nor is it any formality, but it is a collective effort that will make Haryana’s governance more effective. He said under the leadership of Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi, we all are moving forward with the resolution of Viksit Bharat 2047. In achieving this goal, democracy and constitutional institutions have a very significant role. Welcoming Lok Sabha Speaker Sh. Om Birla, he said that he is a visionary leader who has taken very important initiatives to make the legislature effective.
He said that legislative drafting is an integral part of the legislative process, as this work begins even before the Bill reaches the Assembly. When a new law is to be made, an old law is to be amended, or a law is to be repealed, the initiative begins from the concerned ministry or department. The real purpose of legislative drafting is also to identify the needs of society and shape them into clear, simple, and effective legal language.
Incomplete legislative language can become cause of confusion
Sh. Kalyan said in the year 2015, in the case of Shreya Singhal vs. Union of India, the Supreme Court declared Section 66A of the Information Technology Act unconstitutional, because this section was based on words like offensive, insulting, and distressing, which had no clear legal definition. Therefore, the Supreme Court struck it down so that free speech could remain protected in the digital age. This example teaches us that incomplete legislative language can become a cause of confusion and distress, and disputes in courts also keep increasing. Therefore, the purpose of this workshop is to practice such legislative methods so that the law, draft, order, or amendment prepared by you is clear, concise, and in line with the need and time.
He said that in the past years, major legal changes have taken place in the country and the states. Today, we are living in a digital age, which is a period of rapid change. Our effort is that through this training programme, we make more progress in this direction. This workshop will not only talk about linguistic skills but, along with providing other technical knowledge, it will also give the perspective that legislative drafting is not merely a technical task but the greatest service to democracy.
He expressed confidence that the knowledge and experience gained from this workshop will help make all of us better servants of democracy. This participation of ours will work to take Haryana’s governance system to new heights. Let us all resolve that in the coming time, our drafting will not only strengthen the spirit of the Constitution but also strengthen democracy.
Clear language and precise structure make legislative drafting a medium of justice, equality and transparency: Dr. Krishan Lal Middha
Haryana Vidhan Sabha Deputy Speaker Dr. Krishan Lal Middha said that legislators are not only public representatives but also solution-givers to the problems of society. Public service does not mean being limited to office hours, but being ready at all times, day and night, to serve the people. He said this event is not just a formality, but a strong effort to further strengthen the quality and transparency of the legislative process. He said that clear language and precise structure make legislative drafting a medium of justice, equality and transparency in society.
Dr. Middha said that in this training programme today, in collaboration with National Law University, Delhi, a Diploma and Certificate Course in Legislative Drafting has been launched, which presents a long-term vision and will play an important role in capacity building of legislative officers and employees.
This training programme is an opportunity to enhance legislative competence: Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi
Haryana Chief Secretary Sh. Anurag Rastogi said that this training programme is not merely a formality but an important opportunity for officers and employees to make their work more effective, transparent, and legislatively empowered. He stated that long years of experience have shown that even minor gaps in the law are sometimes misused for wrongful purposes. In this context, the initiative of the Lok Sabha is highly commendable, as by organizing such a training programme, it has paved the way for officers and employees to gain insight into the legislative process and the intricacies of lawmaking. Congratulating the officers and employees, he said that this training will not only help them sharpen their capabilities but also provide an opportunity to advance their knowledge and experience.
On this occasion, Secretary General, Lok Sabha, Sh. Utpal Kumar Singh, as well as officers and employees of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha were also present.
