New Delhi, April 11 Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Saturday highlighted the government's focus on strengthening institutional arbitration, decriminalizing minor offenses, and modernizing legacy laws to align with constitutional values and ease of doing business.
Addressing the concluding session of the International Conference on "Arbitration in the Era of Globalisation," organized by the Indian Council of Arbitration (ICA) here, the minister stressed the growing importance of structured dispute resolution systems in a rapidly evolving global economy.
Emphasizing a shift in approach, Meghwal said, "Instead of ad-hoc arbitration, there should be institutional arbitration. We agree with this approach, and when we agree, you can be assured that the government will work decisively in this direction, strengthening dispute resolution mechanisms and building greater trust in the system."
He noted that reforms relating to arbitration frameworks, including provisions concerning the appointment of arbitrators and commercial law processes, are under active consideration, with committees already examining key aspects.
Highlighting the government's reform agenda, the minister said that "nearly 1000 offenses" have been decriminalized, describing it as a major step towards improving regulatory efficiency, a statement by the organizers said.
"Nearly 1000 offenses have been decriminalized. There were situations where a fine of Rs 100 required a process costing Rs 10,000. Such provisions needed rationalization, and our effort is to make laws practical, efficient, and supportive of ease of doing business," he said.
Meghwal also referred to efforts to remove outdated and discriminatory provisions from colonial-era laws, including changes to the Indian Succession Act, 1925. "Some provisions in older laws were discriminatory and did not reflect the principle of equality. Our Constitution stands on equality, liberty, fraternity, and justice, and it is our responsibility to ensure that every law aligns with these foundational values," he said.
The minister also drew attention to broader systemic reforms, including significant changes in the criminal justice framework, and underlined their importance alongside civil and commercial law reforms