Cabinet approves Constitution of 22nd Law Commission of India

The Union Cabinet on February 19, 2020 approved 22nd Law Commission of India for a period of 3 years from the date of publication of the Order of Constitution in the Official Gazette.

Facts

• The Government will have the benefit of recommendations from a specialised body on different aspects of law which are entrusted to the Commission for its study and recommendations, as per its terms of reference.
• The Law Commission shall, on a reference made to it by the Central Government or suo-motu, undertake research in law and review of existing laws in India for making reforms therein and enacting new legislations.
• It shall also undertake studies and research for bringing reforms in the justice delivery systems for elimination of delay in procedures, speedy disposal of cases, reduction in cost of litigation etc.

Functions

The Law Commission of India shall, inter-alia,: –

1. identify laws which are no longer needed or relevant and can be immediately repealed;
2. 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;
3. consider and convey to the Government its views on any subject relating to law and judicial administration that may be specifically referred to it by the Government through Ministry of Law and Justice (Department of Legal Affairs);
4. Consider the requests for providing research to any foreign countries as may be referred to it by the Government through Ministry of Law and Justice (Department of Legal Affairs);
5. take all such measures as may be necessary to harness law and the legal process in the service of the poor;
6. revise the Central Acts of general importance so as to simplify them and remove anomalies, ambiguities and inequities;

Background

• The Law Commission of India is a non-statutory body constituted by the Government of India from time to time.
• The Commission was originally constituted in 1955 and is re-constituted every three years. The tenure of twenty-first Law Commission of India was upto 31st August, 2018.
• The various Law Commission have been able to make important contribution towards the progressive development and codification of Law of the country. The Law Commission has so far submitted 277 reports.
• The Government of India established the First Law Commission of Independent India in 1955 with the then Attorney-General of India, Mr. M. C. Setalvad, as its Chairman. 

The 22nd Law Commission will be constituted for a period of three years from the date of publication of its Order in the Official Gazette. It will consist of:

1. a full-time Chairperson;
2. four full-time Members (including Member-Secretary)
3. Secretary, Department of Legal Affairs as ex-officio Member;
4. Secretary, Legislative Department as ex officio Member; and
5. not more than five part-time Members.

First Law Commission	1955-58	Mr. M. C. Setalvad Former Attorney General of India
Second Law Commission	1958-61	Mr. Justice T. V. Venkatarama Aiyar.
Third Law Commission	1961-64	Mr. Justice J. L. Kapur
Fourth Law Commission	1964-68	Mr. Justice J. L. Kapur
Fifth Law Commission	1968-71	Mr. K. V. K. Sundaram, I. C. S.
Sixth Law Commission	1971-74	Mr. Justice Dr. P. B. Gajendragadkar
Seventh Law Commission	1974-77	Mr. Justice Dr. P. B. Gajendragadkar
Eighth Law Commission	1977-79	Mr. Justice H. R. Khanna
Ninth Law Commission	1979-80	Mr. Justice P. V. Dixit
Tenth Law Commission	1981-85	Mr. Justice K. K. Mathew
Eleventh Law Commission	1985-88	Mr. Justice D. A. Desai
Twelfth Law Commission	1988-91	Mr. Justice M. P. Thakkar
Thirteenth Law Commission	1991-94	Mr. Justice K. N. Singh
Fourteenth Law Commission	1995-97	Mr. Justice K Jayachandra Reddy
Fifteenth Law Commission	1997-2000	Mr. Justice B. P. Jeevan Reddy
Sixteenth Law Commission	2000-2001 2002-2003	Mr. Justice B. P. Jeevan Reddy Mr. Justice M. Jagannadha Rao
Seventeenth Law Commission	2003-2006	Mr. Justice M. Jagannadha Rao
Eighteenth Law Commission	2006-2009	Dr. Justice AR Lakshmanan
Nineteenth Law Commission	2009-2012	Mr. Justice P. V. Reddi
Twentieth Law Commission	2012-2013 2013-2015	Mr. Justice D. K. Jain Mr. Justice A. P. Shah