PLEA BEFORE KERALA SEEKING EXTENSION OF THE DEADLINE FOR THE PUBLIC TO EXPRESS THEIR OPINION ON THE DRAFT OF LAKSHADWEEP REGULATIONS

Rawther federation has moved a plea through its Lakshwadeep representative 
Shaik Mujeeb Rahman, before the Kerala HC. Raising concern over not providing adequate 
time to citizens to express their objections on the Draft Lakshadweep Development Authority 
Regulation, 2021 and the Draft Lakshadweep Animal Preservation Regulations, 2021.
In the petition, Rahman submitted that the administration of the Union territory did not give an 
adequate opportunity for citizens to participate in the pre-legislative scrutiny of the regulations. 
He further asked whether the draft laws diligently published through any other means to 
ensure that it reaches the affected masses.
The petitioner referred to the pre-legislative scrutiny guidelines issued by the Minister of Law and Justice in 2013 and published in January 2014. It mentioned the modes of publication instruments before submitting them to the cabinet for approval. While agreeing that the pre-
legislative scrutiny was followed, but the notices were published in a namesake manner without giving proper attention. The respondent has only tried to impose it upon the people of 
Lakshadweep.
Therefore, the petitioner seeks the following relief:
1. Records that the regulations were made available to the affected people other than 
through the official website
2. To consider the opinion and suggestion of the people of Lakshwadeep, without 
imposing it upon the citizens.
3. Extension of time granted by another 30 days
4. Sufficient publicity to the drafts so as to allow sufficient people to raise their opinion on 
the same.

Author: Papiha Ghoshal