Laws Enacted and Amended in 2014: A Snapshot

1. The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill received the President’s assent on the 1st January, 2014. It provides for the establishment of a body of Lokpal for the Union and Lokayukta for States to inquire into allegations of corruption against certain public functionaries and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.The law was enacted for effective implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, which was ratified by India in May, 2011. It was enacted so that “the Government's commitment to clean and responsive governance” could be reflected in effective bodies in order to contain and punish acts of corruption.The Act has however been in cold storage all this while, with the Apex Court chiding the Government over the same in August. Last month, Union Law Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda confirmed the government’s decision to amend the provisions of the Lokpal Act and the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act to do away with the requirement of quorum in the high-profile committees to select the anti-corruption ombudsman and the CBI Director, respectively.The inclusion of a clause in the statutory provisions dealing with the selection panels would provide a legal safeguard against any challenges on the validity of an appointment.For further information, you may read:Lokpal Finally- By Rituparna DuttaLokpal and Lokayuktas Act: A Commentary- By Adv. Ajith S.The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2013 is Act No. 1 of 2014: Will new section- 8B (2) of CVC Act dilute the powers of CBI? - By M.A. RashidAccess further coverage by LiveLaw, here.2. The Appropriation (No. 5) Act, 2013The Act received President’s assent on 1st January, 2014 to authorize payment and appropriation of certain further sums from and out of the Consolidated Fund of India for the services of the financial year 2013-143. The Appropriation (Railways) No. 4 Act, 2013The Act received President’s assent on 1st January, 2014 and authorizes payment and appropriation of certain further sums from and out of the Consolidated Fund of India for the services of the financial year 2013-14 for the purposes of Railways.4. The Appropriation (Railways) Vote On Account Act, 2014The Act received President’s assent on 24th February, 2014 and provides for the withdrawal of certain sums from and out of the Consolidated Fund of India for the services of a part of the financial year 2014-15 for the purposes of Railways.5. The Appropriation (Railways) Act, 2014The Act received President’s assent on 24th February, 2014 and authorizes payment and appropriation of certain further sums from and out of the Consolidated Fund of India for the services of the financial year 2013-14 for the purposes of Railways.6. Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Bill, 2014 received the assent of the President on the 1st March, 2014. The Act carves out a separate state called Telangana comprising 10 districts of the existing state of Andhra Pradesh. The ''appointed day'' for the new States' formation was 02 June 2014.After the bifurcation, Andhra Pradesh has 11 seats in Rajya Sabha, and Telangana has 7. In Lok Sabha, Andhra Pradesh has 25 seats and Telangana has 17 seats.Nine petitions were filed in the Supreme Court of India requesting a stay of the tabling of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Bill in the parliament. The apex Court however, refused to stay tabling of the bill in Parliament, saying that it is not going to interfere at this stage.In line with the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, the Ministry of Law and Justice gave a green signal to formation of a separate High Court for Andhra Pradesh last month.According to section 30 of the A.P. Reorganization Act, 2014 (Central Act 6 of 2014) the High Court of Judicature at Hyderabad shall be the common High Court for the State of Telangana and the State of Andhra Pradesh till a separate High Court for the State of Andhra Pradesh is constituted under Article 214 of the Constitution of India etc. and other provisions of the ActFor further information, you may read:Telangana: Intolerance to hostile media- By Prof. (Dr.) Madabhushi SridharBirth of Telangana: Scheme of Bifurcation of the Courts- By Apoorva MandhaniAccess further coverage by LiveLaw, here7. The Appropriation Act, 2014The Act received President’s assent on 4th March, 2014 to authorize payment and appropriation of certain further sums from and out of the Consolidated Fund of India for the services of the financial year 2013-14.8. The Appropriation (Vote On Account) Act, 2014The Act received the President’s assent on 4th March, 2014 to provide for the withdrawal of certain sums from and out of the Consolidated Fund of India for the services of a part of the financial year 2014-15.9. The Delhi Appropriation Act, 2014The Act received President’s assent on 4th March, 2014 to authorize payment and appropriation of certain further sums from and out of the Consolidated Fund of the National Capital...

Laws Enacted and Amended in 2014: A Snapshot

Apoorva Mandhani

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