India's British era laughable laws

[illusion8]

Previous administrations have failed to remove obscure laws dating back to the 19th century, either because of objections by government departments or simply a lack of will. But Modi's officers have identified 287 obsolete laws for scrapping in a November session of parliament.

"Some of the laws on our books are laughable. Others have no place in a modern and democratic India," said Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad who is leading the legislative clean-up.



Flying kites or balloons without police permission is illegal across India as they are classified as an "aircraft" under a 1934 act, and a World War II decree outlaws the dropping of pamphlets from the air in the state of Gujarat.

Under the Motor Vehicles Act, the state of Andhra Pradesh enacted a law that a motor inspector must have a clean set of teeth and anyone with a "pigeon chest, knock knees, flat foot, hammer toes and fractured limbs" will be disqualified.

A swanky New Delhi hotel was threatened with a lawsuit for refusing to give water to a person who invoked an 1867 act under which a rest house must offer passers-by free drinks of water.

Factory owners have suffered at the hands of government inspectors who insist on rules requiring spittoons to be kept in the premises as well as earthen pots for drinking water. Even if factories install modern fire extinguishers, they must still have red-painted buckets with water and sand to put out a blaze.

A Post Office Act of 1898 stipulates that only the government has the right of "conveying by post, from one place to another" most letters, so courier companies get around this by calling the letters they send "documents".

On the chopping block along with the Treasure Trove Act is an 1838 law that says property in an area of the former imperial capital of Calcutta can only be sold to the East India Company, which laid the foundations of the British Empire but ceased to exist more than 150 years ago.

An 1855 measure removing a certain tribe from the purview of local laws because it was an "uncivilised race" will also go.

If you happen to unearth treasure worth even as little as 10 rupees (16 U.S. cents) in India, don't even think of pocketing it - that's because under a law introduced by the former British colonial rulers, it still belongs to "Her Majesty".

India wields the axe on Her Majesty's 'laughable' laws - Hindustan Times

 

[third eye]

India wields the axe on Her Majesty's "laughable" laws

Flying kites or balloons without police permission is illegal across India as they are classified as an "aircraft" under a 1934 act.

If you happen to unearth treasure worth even as little as 10 rupees (16 US cents) in India, don't even think of pocketing it - that's because under a law introduced by the former British colonial rulers, it still belongs to "Her Majesty".

Now, however, the Treasure Trove Act of 1878 and nearly 300 other outdated laws are set to be repealed in the largest-ever cull of rules that make India one of the most puzzling places in the world to do business.

New Prime Minister Narendra Modi is hoping that less regulation and faster decision-making will lift India from its ranking of 134 out of 189 countries on the World Bank's ease of doing business table into the top 50 and attract investors.

"Some of the laws on our books are laughable. Others have no place in a modern and democratic India," said Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad who is leading the legislative clean-up.

Previous administrations have failed to remove obscure laws dating back to the 19th century, either because of objections by government departments or simply a lack of will. But Modi's officers have identified 287 obsolete laws for scrapping in a November session of parliament.

On the chopping block along with the Treasure Trove Act is an 1838 law that says property in an area of the former imperial capital of Calcutta can only be sold to the East India Company, which laid the foundations of the British Empire but ceased to exist more than 150 years ago.

An 1855 measure removing a certain tribe from the purview of local laws because it was an "uncivilised race" will also go.

Even after all these have been abolished, there will still be hundreds of clauses within other laws and thousands of regulations that are real obstacles to business. The government has started identifying these anomalies too, Prasad said.

Spittoons out, scrawny inspectors back in

Flying kites or balloons without police permission is illegal across India as they are classified as an "aircraft" under a 1934 act, and a World War II decree outlaws the dropping of pamphlets from the air in the state of Gujarat.

Under the Motor Vehicles Act, the state of Andhra Pradesh enacted a law that a motor inspector must have a clean set of teeth and anyone with a "pigeon chest, knock knees, flat foot, hammer toes and fractured limbs" will be disqualified.

"There are instances where the entire statute is dysfunctional," said prominent economist Bibek Debroy, who advised Modi during his election campaign and has written a book on the absurdities of Indian law.

He said that obscure laws can sometimes be abused.

A swanky New Delhi hotel was threatened with a lawsuit for refusing to give water to a person who invoked an 1867 act under which a rest house must offer passers-by free drinks of water.

Factory owners have suffered at the hands of government inspectors who insist on rules requiring spittoons to be kept in the premises as well as earthen pots for drinking water. Even if factories install modern fire extinguishers, they must still have red-painted buckets with water and sand to put out a blaze.

Some have a found a way around absurd regulations.

A Post Office Act of 1898 stipulates that only the government has the right of "conveying by post, from one place to another" most letters, so courier companies get around this by calling the letters they send "documents".

 

[FaujHistorian]

..................................


Most of our big name leaders in 1900-1950s were British educated lawyers.

And yet, they all were unable to update our laws to bring at the same level as UK itself.


I wonder why all of them were so third rate as lawyers that they could not change the laws even after 1947.

Heck even our constitutions retained a lot of British era clauses.

Why no one thought of extracting some of the clauses from American constitution that was pretty much 150+ old in 1947.


Just wondering!

 

[third eye]

..................................


Most of our big name leaders in 1900-1950s were British educated lawyers.

And yet, they all were unable to update our laws to bring at the same level as UK itself.


I wonder why all of them were so third rate as lawyers that they could not change the laws even after 1947.

Heck even our constitutions retained a lot of British era clauses.

Why no one thought of extracting some of the clauses from American constitution that was pretty much 150+ old in 1947.


Just wondering!

As the old saying goes..

" It takes more effort to get the old idea out than to get a new idea in "

Add to this the usual complacency.

 

[Levina]

A swanky New Delhi hotel was threatened with a lawsuit for refusing to give water to a person who invoked an 1867 act under which a rest house must offer passers-by free drinks of water

This was funny

And I've heard the one about knock knees.
It shows that we still emulate the British without even giving a second thought about whether it is necessary in the era that we are living.slave mentality at its best!!

 

[FaujHistorian]

This was funny

And I've heard the one about knock knees.
It shows that we still emulate the British without even giving a second thought about whether it is necessary in the era that we are living.slave mentality at its best!!

In some cases yes it is Bherr chaal, complacency, makhi pay makhi mar etc and yes perhaps slavery.


but in other cases NO. You gotta admit British did bring the brand new and modern system of communication (railway, roads, phone, electricity, etc), education, military, police, court system, etc. etc.

Following those modern system is as much British slavery, as much it is for you and I to become american slaves when we use an American system (Internet, Iphone, PhD and MBA etc.).

 

[third eye]

In some cases yes it is Bherr chaal, complacency, makhi pay makhi mar etc and yes perhaps slavery.


but in other cases NO. You gotta admit British did bring the brand new and modern system of communication (railway, roads, phone, electricity, etc), education, military, police, court system, etc. etc.

Following those modern system is as much British slavery, as much it is for you and I to become american slaves when we use an American system (Internet, Iphone, PhD and MBA etc.).

Wouldn't it be best to take the best out of both systems and adapt them to suit local conditions where relevant ?

 

[Levina]

but in other cases NO. You gotta admit British did bring the brand new and modern system of communication (railway, roads, phone, electricity, etc), education, military, police, court system, etc. etc.

Following those modern system is as much British slavery, as much it is for you and I to become american slaves when we use an American system (Internet, Iphone, PhD and MBA etc.).

Fauji bhai...that was a terrible logic.

Would I stop using iPhone just because it is manufactured in China??? ...Nooh

when I said slave mentality then I meant this

On the chopping block along with the Treasure Trove Act is an 1838 law that says property in an area of the former imperial capital of Calcutta can only be sold to the East India Company, which laid the foundations of the British Empire but ceased to exist more than 150 years ago.

An 1855 measure removing a certain tribe from the purview of local laws because it was an "uncivilised race" will also go.

These are obscure laws!!
Dont know why our governments still clinging on to it??
I think we should tread the middle way where we take the best of British laws too.

 

[FaujHistorian]

Wouldn't it be best to take the best out of both systems and adapt them to suit local conditions where relevant ?

yes. Indeed.

However this is easier said than done.

when you can go inside two operating systems, and get the best out of both and build a third OS, that means you are a true genius and way ahead of the inventors of the two OS you copied from.

American founders did exactly what you say here. They took the best that Europe had to offer and made it part of American system.
Some decades later, Japanese did something very similar.

other than these two countries, I have not seen anyone being successful in taking the best out of 2 systems and making the third.

peace

Fauji bhai...that was a terrible logic.

Would I stop using iPhone just because it is manufactured in China??? ...Nooh

when I said slave mentality then I meant this



These are obscure laws!!
Dont know why our governments still clinging on to it??
I think we should tread the middle way where we take the best of British laws too.

Here is something fun:

In Riverside CA, Kissing on the lips, unless both parties wipe their lips with carbonized rose water, is against the local health ordinance.

In Los Angeles, It is not legal to bathe two babies at the same time in the same tub.



Real Funny Dumb Laws in the United States

 

[Levina]

Here is something fun:

In Riverside CA, Kissing on the lips, unless both parties wipe their lips with carbonized rose water, is against the local health ordinance.

In Los Angeles, It is not legal to bathe two babies at the same time in the same tub.

Real Funny Dumb Laws in the United States

Hehehe..
I face those laws on daily basis...afaik there's place near the creek area where they had a board which read "please dont hold hands " (of your partner ofcourse)...or something to that effect.

 

[halupridol]

Hehehe..
I face those laws on daily basis...afaik there's place near the creek area where they had a board which read "please dont hold hands " (of your partner ofcourse)...or something to that effect.

even if they r married?

 

[FaujHistorian]

even if they r married?

off course Levina behn is happily married.

That's why she feels that law to be odd.

 

[third eye]

yes. Indeed.

However this is easier said than done.


I have not seen anyone being successful in taking the best out of 2 systems and making the third.

peace

Though I am not a Sikh but in my opinion centuries ago the Sikh Gurus achieved this by assimilating the good of all religions and creating a religion bereft of the ' millstones' the older religions carry around their necks.

In short, when it comes to applying ourselves we can do it - the will is what is needed.

 

[Levina]

even if they r married?

yes even when married.
But then its limited to that area only.

 

[FaujHistorian]

Though I am not a Sikh but in my opinion centuries ago the Sikh Gurus achieved this by assimilating the good of all religions and creating a religion bereft of the ' millstones' the older religions carry around their necks.

In short, when it comes to applying ourselves we can do it - the will is what is needed.

Good example. but this more about philosophical thoughts being combined and not "systems" being adapted.

In some ways Mohammad pbuh successfully combined practices of Judaism and Christianity.

off course if you see now, then examples like ISIS will single handidly disprove it, but I am talking about the few centuries after Mohammad pbuh, when Muslims still carried around Bible and Torah alongwith Quran.

even if they r married?

No hanky panky allowed in Connecticut.. A person who commits any unnatural and lascivious act with another person commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in state law. It is illegal for unmarried couples to commit lewd acts and live together Source: 775.082 or s. 775.083


Iowa
In Ottumwa, It is illegal for any man, within the corporate city limits, to wink at any female with whom he is "unacquainted."