A visual representation of "LEGAL LANGUAGE" designed as a complex, maze-like structure, symbolizing the difficulty in understanding legal texts.
  • Opinion
  • 9 Mar 2025
  • 1 min read

When Indian Laws Don’t Sound Greek…

This opinion was published in Times of India on March 09, 2025.

Title: "WHEN INDIAN LAWS DON’T SOUND GREEK..." Summary: The article discusses the complexity of legal language in India and the need for simplification to make laws more accessible to the general public. Lawyers at the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy argue that laws should be written in plain, everyday language to better serve justice. Key Highlights: Legal jargon often makes laws difficult to understand, alienating ordinary citizens. Examples provided, such as Section 11 of the Right to Information Act, 2005, demonstrate how legal provisions can be rewritten in simpler terms. A standard rent agreement clause is compared with a simplified version to show how legal documents can be made more comprehensible. The new Income Tax Bill, 2025, is highlighted as a step toward clearer laws by reducing wordiness, restructuring content, and removing outdated provisions. A survey conducted by Vidhi’s SARAL Initiative found that complex legal language leads to financial losses, disputes, and benefits only the wealthy and legal professionals. Illustration: A visual representation of "LEGAL LANGUAGE" designed as a complex, maze-like structure, symbolizing the difficulty in understanding legal texts. Conclusion: The article advocates for legal reform to make laws more user-friendly, reducing litigation risks and ensuring that everyone—not just experts—can understand their rights and obligations.

About the Authors
Rakshita Goyal

Rakshita is a Senior Resident Fellow with the Legal Design and Regulation team. Rakshita graduated from National Law University, Jodhpur with a B.A., LL.B. (Hons.). Prior to joining Vidhi, she has worked at the Centre for Policy Research and PRS Legislative Research. Her research areas have involved federal water governance, and health, technology and environment laws. She is broadly interested in understanding the social, political and economic contexts behind the law and how systems can be designed to better fit these contexts.

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