Law minister seeks panel`s suggestions on electoral reforms

Mumbai: Union Law Minister Ashwani Kumar said Wednesday that he had asked the Law Commission to suggest electoral reforms to weed out criminality and corruption.

Kumar said that electoral reforms were the need of the hour to cleanse and streamline the system to secure the foundations of Indian democracy, he told reporters. "The government will evolve a broad consensus on the issue. I plan to discuss the issue with all political parties in May after recommendations are received. If necessary, a new law will be enacted," he said. The minister said that Congress party`s Jaipur declaration lays strong emphasis on electoral and judicial reforms. To a question on the long pending demand to rename Bombay High Court as Mumbai High Court, Kumar said it was under active consideration. "There are also demands regarding Calcutta High Court and Madras High Court," he said. PTI