Post Legislative Scrutiny generates people friendly laws

Abstract

Post-Legislative Scrutiny is, relatively, a novel concept. An effective mechanism of Post-Legislative Scrutiny will contribute to review the laws in force, making the laws people-friendly. An institutionalized Post- Legislative Scrutiny mechanism will accomplish the intention of the legislature. Moreover, it reinforces the ?parliamentary Supremacy?. The concept, Post-Legislative Scrutiny will prevent the legislature from becoming a ?Legislative Black Hole?. The main objective of the paper is to explore prevailing Post-Legislative Scrutiny mechanisms in the world, with special reference to the United Kingdom Parliament. And other objectives are to evaluate Lankan requirement of Post-Legislative Scrutiny and to recommend a strategic plan to set up an effective Post Legislative Scrutiny mechanism in Sri Lankan parliament. The Methodology adopted in this research is, a comparative study on post-legislative scrutiny mechanisms of United Kingdom and Sri Lanka.United Kingdom government takes revolutionary steps towards Post-Legislative scrutiny with the advent of two significant reports namely, the Constitution Committee Report and the Law Commission Report. United Kingdom government responds aforesaid reports, introducing Joint committees and the legislations go through a government review, parliamentary review and a review by the independent reviewers?. Sri Lanka is in a dire need for review of legislations. Establishment of a post-legislative scrutiny unit and a post-legislative scrutiny committee in Sri Lankan parliament would better serve the purpose. In conclusion, if the parliament or the legislature is to preserve its legislative supremacy, it, unquestionably, should legislate for people and those legislations should be qualified as ?people- friendly?. A Post-Legislative Scrutiny mechanism generates people friendly- laws.