Arjun Ram Meghwal approves policy on litigation, says UCC remains on agenda: ‘Keep watching’

The policy was launched in 2010 by then-Law minister Veerappa Moily to make the government a more “responsible litigant”. The 2010 policy said appeals should not be filed against ex-parte interim orders, rather attempts should be made to have such orders vacated; and no appeals should be filed in service-related matters that pertain to individual grievances without any major repercussions, among others. However, the policy was not implemented.

In 2015, the NDA government revived the plan and in a reply to Lok Sabha on December 17, 2021, then-Law minister Kiren Rijiju said the policy was “under consideration”.

Meghwal said “speedy justice” was one of the government’s priorities and that whatever interventions were required to reduce the pendency of cases would be taken. A more immediate task before the ministry, he said, was the need to create awareness of the three new criminal laws, set to be implemented from July 1.

Listing out the immediate priorities of the Ministry, the minister did not mention the implementation of the Ram Nath Kovind committee report, which in March made recommendations for holding simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha, state Assemblies and municipalities. Asked if the recommendations would be implemented, Meghwal said: “We have received the report. We will tell you later.”

On the Uniform Civil Code, which was a part of the BJP’s manifesto, Meghwal said: “It’s on our agenda. Dekhte jayein aage [keep watching ahead].”

He also said the vacancies on various courts would be filled in a phased manner.