Law Commission of India

• 09 Nov 2022

Why in News?

Retired High Court Chief Justice Rituraj Awasthi has been appointed as the chairperson of the 22^nd law commission of India which was constituted in 2020.

What is the Law Commission of India?

• About:
  • The Law Commission of India is a non-statutory body constituted by the Government of India from time to time.
    • The first Law Commission of independent India was established in 1955 for a three-year term.
    • The first Law Commission was established during the British Raj era in 1834 by the Charter Act of 1833 and was chaired by Lord Macaulay.
• Objectives:
  • It works as an advisory body to the Ministry of Law and Justice.
  • The Law Commission undertakes research in law and review of existing laws in India for making reforms therein and enacting new legislations on a reference made to it by the Central Government or suo-motu.
• Composition:
  • Apart from having a full-time chairperson, the commission will have four full-time members, including a member-secretary.
  • Law and Legislative Secretaries in the Law Ministry will be the ex-officio members of the commission.
  • It will also have not more than five part-time members.
  • A retired Supreme Court judge or Chief Justice of a High Court will head the Commission.

What are the Important Recommendations of the Commission?

• The Law Commission in its 262^nd Report recommended abolition of the death penalty for all crimes except terrorism-related offences and waging war against the state.
• Its report on electoral reforms (1999) had suggested simultaneous Lok Sabha and state assembly elections to improve governance and stability.
• The Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act, 2022 which replace the Identification of Prisoners Act,1920 was also proposed by the Law Commission of India.

• The 21^st Law commission in its recommendation in 2018 said that Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is “neither necessary nor desirable at this stage”.

  • Now, the center has requested the 22^nd Law Commission of India to undertake an examination of various issues relating to the same.

Source: TH