Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Department

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Secretary's Message

SHRI H. D. VYAS

As its name suggests, the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Department basically deals with following two subjects:

In the sphere of legislation:

                The Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Department is responsible for examining threadbare all the pieces of legislation before introducing the same in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly as well as those relating to subordinate legislation. In this sense, the Department has a pivotal role to play in the process of law making in the Government of Gujarat.

                Modern life is simply inseparable from a plethora of laws. Our dynamic and progressive human society today demands successive progress in every walk of life. Heracleitus, the Greek visionary aptly puts it - “All is flux, nothing is stationary.”

                Life today is conditioned by laws and bye-laws to ensure safety, security, right, liberty, equality, justice, peace, happiness and dignity of every individual in the society in the context of one’s relationship with others. Thus, it aims at enrichment of life through the process of constitutionalism.

                An ideal law should work as an instrument of welfare achieving the greatest good of the greatest number. Thus a law should be a means to an end, not an end in itself. But, State should endeavour to avoid going in for more legislations and make efforts for speedy implementation of the existing laws.

                The Stupendous task can be squarely achieved by repealing obsolete laws and enacting fresh ones so that society does not become sick or stagnant. Thus this Department contributes its mite in the whole gamut of changing society through law making considered by the Legislature.

In the sphere of Parliamentary Affairs:

                Founding Fathers of our Constitution have rightly chosen “parliamentary system of democracy”. This parliamentary democracy has withstood the test of time. A journey spanning fifty years is not a short journey. In the process of parliamentary democracy, dialogue is an essential pre-requisite for functioning democracy. There is no higher or better forum than Parliament or Legislature for this role. Among other things democracy demands self-discipline of a very high order. It also demands high degree of democratic temper and a sense of showing respect to the sentiments and views of others. Tolerance is a basic attribute of our democratic society and intolerance is very anti-thesis of democracy. The ability to work with others especially with whom we differ on an ideological plane is the best test of our democratic credentials. It reminds me the words of Voltaire “I do not agree with what you say but I will defend unto my death your right to say it”. In a parliamentary democracy, both ruling and opposition Parties have an honourable and respectable role to play. The Government needs to be more responsive and the opposition more responsible. “Restraint in power and decorum in the Assembly” is a true characteristic of parliamentary democracy.

                The Legislature has ample scope to function keeping in view the economic, social, cultural and political development of the people. The interest of the people and the development of the State is looked after by the Legislature.

                As a people friendly measure, this Department has opened its own Website and has undertaken a big task of providing usual information regarding laws prevalent in the State.

                It would feel nice if the people at large in the State make the best use of it and give their feed back so that the website can be updated in keeping with the aspirations of the people and changing times.

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