Periodically Monitor Status Of Uploading Central Acts, Other Legislations On India Code Portal: Delhi High Court To Law Ministry

The Delhi High Court has directed the Union Ministry of Law and Justice to periodically monitor the status of uploading Central Acts and subordinate legislations on “India Code” portal.

“The Secretary, Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice is directed to periodically monitor the status of uploading the Acts on the India Code portal and ensure that the process is completed seamlessly and in a time-bound manner,” Justice Manmohan ordered.

The court was hearing a plea moved by the Union Government in 2016 challenging an order passed by the Central Information Commission directing it theto upload all the latest amended bare Acts and to examine the functionality of its E-mail ID. The government was also directed to develop an appropriate RTI filing mechanism.

In September, 2016, the court had directed the Secretary or Union Government’s Legislative Department to ensure that publications of Bare Acts were easily available. Senior Advocate Jayant K. Bhushan was also appointed as Amicus Curiae in the matter.

The court observed that pursuant to its direction, the India Code Portal (www.indiacode.nic.in) has been redesigned and made user-friendly. It further noted that the website contains all unrepealed Central Acts, State Acts and subordinate legislations and that

Most of the Ministries have identified their subordinate legislations and uploaded the relevant documents as PDF in a searchable format.

“Till date, the total number of Central Acts that have subordinate legislations is 460, out of which mapping of the Act with relevant sections of 438 Acts has been completed and the mapping of the remaining Acts is in process. The Nodal officers of the Central Government have been reminded from time to time with the latest reminder on 10th August, 2023. It is stated in the status report that till date 69 Ministries / Departments have furnished completion certificates to the Legislative Department,” the court said.

Justice Manmohan also noted that the Hindi versions of Central Acts are available on the website of Union Government’s Legislative Department at www.legislative.gov.in, under the heading Official Languages Wing.

“In view of the above, this Court is of the opinion that the Petitioner has not only complied with the directions contained in the impugned order but has gone much beyond it. Consequently, the cost imposed by the CIC by way of the impugned order is waived,” the court said.

Case Title: UNION OF INDIA v. VANSH SHARAD GUPTA

Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 784

Click Here To Read Order