22nd Law Commission

In News

• The Union Cabinet recently approved extension of the term of 22nd Law Commission up to August 31, 2024.

About the Law Commission of India

• About:
  • Law Commission of India is a non-statutory body 
  • It is constituted by a notification of the Government of India, Ministry of Law & Justice, Department of Legal Affairs. 
• Terms of reference & recommendations:
  • It is constituted with a definite terms of reference to carry out research in the field of law 
  • The Commission makes recommendations to the Government in the form of Reports as per its terms of reference. 
  • The Law Commission until now has taken up various subjects on references made by Department of Legal Affairs, Supreme Court and High Courts.
• Origin:
  • The first Law Commission was established during colonial rule in India by the East India Company under the Charter Act of 1833 and was presided by Lord Macaulay. 
  • After that, three more commissions were established in pre-independent India.
• Post-independence: 
  • The tradition of pursuing law reform through the medium of a law commission was continued in post-independent India. 
  • The first law commission in independent India was established in 1955 and since then twenty more law commissions have been established.
• Constitution of the 22nd Law Commission:
  • Head:
    • The Commission is headed by former Karnataka High Court Chief Justice Rituraj Awasthi.
  • Function:
    • The Commission, among other things, shall “identify laws which are no longer needed or relevant and can be immediately repealed; examine the existing laws in the light of Directive Principles of State Policy and suggest ways of improvement and reform and also suggest such legislations as might be necessary to implement the Directive Principles and to attain the objectives set out in the Preamble of the Constitution”; and “revise the Central Acts of general importance so as to simplify them and remove anomalies, ambiguities and inequities”.
    • The Commission is also looking into several significant issues like 
      • Implementation of a Uniform Civil Code (UCC).
    • Holding of simultaneous elections.

Source: TH