The Legislative Department under the Ministry of Law and Justice has taken a major step to protect India’s legal heritage. As part of Special Campaign 5.0, officials are moving thousands of old files and unique documents to the National Archives of India (NAI). These records, some dating back to 1912, include original copies of laws signed by Viceroys, Governor Generals, and Presidents.
Why This Transfer Matters for India’s History
Every central act, regulation, ordinance, and constitutional amendment carries the weight of the nation’s journey. These documents are not just paper; they are the building blocks of modern India. Under the Public Records Act of 1993 and its rules, any file older than 25 years must be reviewed and preserved properly. The current exercise ensures that priceless legislative material stays safe for scholars, lawyers, and citizens for generations.
On 29 October 2025, a dedicated NAI team arrived at Shastri Bhawan in New Delhi. They worked in Room 411 on the fourth floor and the second-floor record room. Their task was to examine each file, decide its archival value, and prepare it for transfer. By the end of the day, 289 files were cleared and marked for immediate movement to NAI.
What Exactly Is Being Transferred?
The collection spans pre-independence and post-independence eras. Key items include:
- Original assented copies of Central Acts from 1912 onwards
- Regulations and ordinances bearing Viceroy signatures
- President’s Acts and Constitution Orders
- Every Constitution Amendment Act signed by the President
These are not duplicates; they are the master copies that became law. Losing even one would mean losing a piece of India’s legal DNA.
More Than 3000 Files to Follow Soon
The 289 files finalised on the first day are just the beginning. NAI experts will return to appraise over 3000 additional records in the coming weeks. Once cleared, these too will find a permanent home at the National Archives. The entire process follows strict scientific methods to prevent damage and ensure easy retrieval in the future.
Who Made This Happen?
Dr Rajiv Mani, Secretary of the Legislative Department, led the effort from the front. He worked closely with Additional Secretary and nodal officer Shri R K Pattanayak. Other key contributors included Dr Manoj Kumar, Dr K V Kumar, Smt Rakhi Biswas, Shri Prashant Bhardwaj, Shri Sushil Kumar, and the entire department staff. Their coordination turned a complex administrative task into a smooth operation.
National media gave the event wide coverage. Doordarshan News, All India Radio, and IANS sent reporters to capture the moment when history was literally handed over for safekeeping.
How Special Campaign 5.0 Drives Efficiency
Special Campaign 5.0 is a government-wide push to clean up pending tasks, free up space, and digitise where possible. For the Legislative Department, it provided the perfect trigger to tackle decades of accumulated records. By moving non-current files to NAI, the department not only complies with the law but also creates room for current work.
The exercise also highlights transparency. When citizens know that even the oldest laws are preserved with care, trust in governance grows. Researchers will soon be able to access these documents under NAI’s public access rules, opening new avenues for legal and historical studies.
Looking Ahead: A Model for Other Departments
The Legislative Department’s success sets an example. Other ministries holding historic records can follow the same roadmap: identify, appraise, transfer, and preserve. Digital scans of select documents may also be created to reduce physical handling in the future.
Dr Rajiv Mani thanked every officer and staff member for their commitment. He called the day’s achievement a proud milestone for the Ministry of Law and Justice. With thousands more files in the pipeline, the partnership between the Legislative Department and NAI will only grow stronger.
India’s legal memory is now safer than ever. From the first Central Act of the British era to the latest constitutional amendment, every signature tells a story. Thanks to Special Campaign 5.0, those stories will never fade.