Clear and transparent laws are the foundation of democracy – Om Birla
Capacity building in legislative drafting will ensure welfare-oriented and time-relevant laws
Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh–
Lok Sabha Speaker Sh. Om Birla inaugurated a two-day training workshop on Legislative Drafting and Capacity Building organized by the Haryana Vidhan Sabha in collaboration with the Institute of Constitutional and Parliamentary Studies, Lok Sabha, at the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration, Sector-26, Chandigarh on Friday.
Speaking on the occasion, Om Birla underlined that legislative drafting is the soul of democracy. He emphasized that clear, simple, and transparent laws strengthen democratic institutions and deepen citizens’ trust in governance. Laws must evolve with changing times. With proper training, we can ensure that future legislation is more welfare-oriented and responsive to the needs of society, he stated.
The inaugural session was attended by CM Nayab Singh Saini, Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker. Harvinder Kalyan, Karnataka Vidhan Sabha Speaker, U T Khader Fareed, and Haryana Vidhan Sabha Deputy Speaker, Dr. Krishan Lal Middha.
Om Birla praised Haryana for its contribution to democratic values and its achievements in agriculture, industry, and culture. He lauded the state government for creating a historic milestone by procuring all crops at Minimum Support Price under the leadership of Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini.
Constitution as a Living Guide
Highlighting the enduring relevance of the Constitution, Om Birla said it was drafted after exhaustive debate, dialogue, and consensus-building. It guided the nation at the time of independence and continues to serve as a living inspiration today. Legislatures, within the limits of their defined powers, transform the aspirations of the people into laws, he said.
He also recalled how legislative departments earlier had many seasoned experts, but over time their numbers declined. PM Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, he said, recognized the importance of regular training in legislative drafting to bridge this gap. Such programmes, he added, allow younger officers to benefit from the experience of senior experts who shaped landmark laws.
Laws must be Clear and People-Centric
The Lok Sabha Speaker stressed that legislative drafting must leave no room for grey-area. If a law is clear, transparent, and simple, it becomes truly useful to citizens. Grey areas in drafting weaken the intent of laws during judicial scrutiny, he said.
He added that democracy thrives on debate, dialogue, and even dissent, provided the ultimate objective remains public welfare. This initiative by the Haryana Vidhan Sabha is a vital step towards creating effective, welfare-driven, and contemporary laws, he said.
Om Birla underlined that any legislation must reflect people’s aspirations and the real needs of the state. He expressed confidence that the two-day workshop will provide a platform for sharing diverse perspectives, enabling lawmakers to draft stronger laws for citizens’ welfare and state development.