Assam's 19th govt set to do away with 10 Bengal laws obsolete for last 148 years

GUWAHATI: Ten Bengal Regulations, which have remained in force in Assam even after the state was detached from the administrative control of Bengal and made into a separate chief commissionership 148 years ago, are all finally set to be abolished.
Also, in the list of to-go laws, is the Sylhet Jhum Regulation act of 1891, which is regulation made under the Government of India Acts of 1870 besides 36 other archaic laws.
The decision to abolish these 48 obsolete laws was taken by the cabinet of the 19th government of the state since the first government formed by the first assembly elections in 1952.
The list also includes laws that have remained even after Assam was divided into many parts to create new states from 1963 are also set to be abolished.
Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the government would bring a repealing bill in the assembly this month to repeal these archaic laws.
The cabinet, which met at Kokrajhar, also decided to repeal archaic laws in agriculture department, including the Assam Debt Conciliation Act, which dates back to 1936. Set to be abolished and is also an act, Assam Agriculturist Loans (Extension to United Khasi, Jaintia Hills District) Act 1963.
In the health department, the law on its way out is the Bengal Vaccination Act of 1880, Assam Drugs (Control) Act of 1950, Assam Health (Prohibition of Manufacturing, Advertisement, trade, storage, Distribution, Sale and Consumption of Zarda, Gutkha, Panmasala etc. containing Tobacco and/or Nicotine) Act 2013, Assam Kala-Azar Treatment Act 1949, Rural Health Regulatory Authority Act 2004.
In the forest department, the laws that the cabinet gave its nod repeal are the Assam National Parks Act 1968 and Assam Rhinoceros Preservation Act 1954, while in the excise department, it would be the Assam Excise (Extension to Mizo) District Act 1961.
Some of the other laws that will be abolished are Assam Private Fisheries Protection Act 1935 , Assam Cement Control Act 1953, Assam Handicraft Artisan Welfare Fund Act 1998, Assam State Industrial Relief Undertakings (Special Provision) Act 1984 , Assam Industries (Sales Tax Concessions) Act 1986, Press and Registration of Books (Extension to Lusai Hills) Act 1954, Assam Shramik Bahini Act 1959, Bijni Succession Act 1931 and Assam Disorderly House Act 1936.