Moily’s roadmap for reform

India’s new law minister reveals his plans to revitalize the country’s legal system and explains why the entry of foreign law firms will soon become a ‘non-issue’

Interview and photographs by Raghavendra Verma

Apractising lawyer and partner at Bangalore-based law firm Moily Associates, M Veerappa Moily has 40 years’ experience of service in public life. He was previously the chief minister of Karnataka state and has acted as chairman of the Administrative Reform Commission, the Tax Reforms Commission and the Revenue Reforms Commission. His 2004 report on value added tax provided the foundation for the system now implemented throughout the country. He was also instrumental in establishing the National Law School University and the International Information Technology Park, both located in Bangalore.

Moily spends most weekends in his native state of Karnataka. The rest of his time is spent in New Delhi, receiving visitors at his official bungalow and working at his fourth-floor office, where large television screens display 24-hour news channels. It was here that he spoke exclusively to India Business Law Journal about his first three months in office and the key priorities on his busy agenda.