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2 months ago in Legal History By Anusha

Should south asian nations just throw out their colonial-era legal codes?

There's a strong argument that India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and others should replace their British-era criminal and evidence codes with entirely new, indigenous legal frameworks. Why hasn't this happened—and should it?

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By Manoj Answered 2 months ago

The argument for replacement is symbolically powerful: these codes are instruments of colonial control, not liberation. But replacement is not reform. Existing codes are deeply embedded judges know them, lawyers argue them, citizens understand their contours. Reform amending outdated provisions, excising racist or anachronistic sections, inserting new protections is often more practical and less disruptive than starting from zero. The priority is substantive justice, not the origin of the ink. Overhaul risks creating inconsistency, uncertainty, and operational chaos. Evolution, not revolution, has been the wiser path.

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