In a bold step towards simplifying governance and decluttering the state’s legal framework, the Odisha Cabinet today approved three major proposals from the Law Department, with the headline move being the repeal of 358 redundant and obsolete Acts enacted between 1974 and 2025.
Most of these laws are amending Acts whose changes have already been fully incorporated into the respective principal Acts. Several others were enacted as one-time measures that have long since served their purpose. Retaining them on the statute book only creates unnecessary confusion for citizens, lawyers, and administrators alike.
The State Law Commission of Odisha, in its reports dated April 6 and April 30, 2026, strongly recommended the repeal, noting that these laws have become either redundant or completely obsolete. Accepting the Commission’s advice, the government will now introduce the Odisha Repealing Bill, 2026 in the Assembly. Once passed, the exercise will significantly lighten the burden on the statute book and bring greater clarity to the public.
The Cabinet also cleared two forward-looking proposals aimed at strengthening the judiciary:
- New Rules for Court Managers: Following directions from the Hon’ble Supreme Court, the government has framed comprehensive rules for the appointment and service conditions of Court Managers in the High Court and District Courts. The move is expected to enhance administrative efficiency and support Principal District Judges in delivering smoother court operations.
- Promotional Avenue for Group-D Staff: The Odisha District and Civil Courts’ Non-Judicial Staff Services Rules, 2008, have been amended to open a clear career path for Group-D employees to be promoted as Junior Clerks. This reform will improve staff motivation, ensure better representation, help fill vacancies faster, and ultimately speed up the delivery of justice to the people of Odisha.
These three decisions together signal the state government’s strong commitment to legal simplification, judicial efficiency, and people-centric governance.
