Report No. 249
Chapter 2
Laws Recommended for Complete Repeal
2.1 This Chapter lists 77 statutes that warrant complete repeal, with recommendations and notes on each:
1. Bengal Indigo Contracts Act, Act 10 of 1836
Category: Laws Relating to Administration and Development of Local Areas
Recommendation: Repeal in consultation with relevant State(s)
Prior to independence, the British controlled the entire trade in indigo and this Act, which was enacted by the Governor-General-in-Council, helped consolidate British rule over indigo farming by enforcing its cultivation by farmers in the erstwhile Bengal province. This Act is in disuse and a remnant of colonialism, and should be repealed. However, according to Article 372(1), the competent legislature for repeal of this Act is that of the State where the Act is in force.
Therefore, the Central Government should write to the concerned State Governments recommending review of this law by the State with a view to repeal. The Central Government should also remove this law from its lists of Central Acts in force. This Act has also been recommended for repeal by the PC Jain Commission Report (Appendix A-5).
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