Law Minister Veerappa Moily appears to be a man possessed, when it comes to reforms in the legal sector. After proposing various Bills, most of which are yet to be passed by the Rajya Sabha, Moily has shown keen intent on following up on his promises.

Moily is setting a six month deadline starting January 26 to release 1.25 lakh undertrial prisoners who have been booked for petty offences and have served a majority of the prescribed sentence. Statistics peg 60 to 70 percent of the jailed population as being undertrials, and a similar percentage as petty offenders. Several spend more time in jail as undertrials than the maximum tenure prescribed by law.

In August last year, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh raised concerns and sought an efficient case disposal system. In response, Moily has structured a detailed plan to put the Prime Minister's demand into action.

Sources suggest that Moily has divided the country into zones to be headed by various Additional Solicitor Generals who will be guided by Attorney General Ghoolam E. Vahanvati and Solicitor General Gopal Subramaniam.

At a consultation for electoral reforms conducted yesterday at Dharwad, he reiterated his commitment to bringing reforms in legal education, as well as judicial and electoral reforms.

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